INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BUSINESS POLICY AND ECONOMICS Vol. 4, No. 1, (2011) : 65-69 THE PROBLEM OF URBANIZATION IN INDIA AND ITS SOLUTION S. R. Solanki HOD, Depatrment of Economics, Arts,Commerce & Science College, Borsad, Dist: Anand, Gujarat, India The process of evolution and development of cities has been seen in the world from the ancient time. The economic and non-economic factors are responsible for urbanization. In these, the limited chances of employment in villages, high salary in cities in comparison to villages, the attraction towards city life for villagers, the effect of poverty and imitation, high growth rate of population, social, geographical and educational factors are mainly included. The use of modern technology is increased in cities in industrial fields. So the figure of employees is increasing more rather than the figure of employment. Hence, urban unemployment increases. It is due to urbanization, the problem of habitat emerges. So people live in filthy Chawls, roads which give birth to theft, loot, prostitution etc The pollution of air, water and noise increases in cities due to industrial development and increasing vehicles. Urbanization is a dangerous problem for a developing country like India. It is due to urbanization, some economical and social problems emerge in cities which become difficult to solve. Then, we have only one solution, that is, the development of villages. If the facilities like cities should be made available in villages and employment should be created, there will surely be deterioration in urbanization. The report of United Nations 2008 says that when the population of cities will be 50 percentage due to over population in India, the condition of cities will become complex. So, it is necessary to develop villages from right now. 1. INTRODUCTION The process of evolution and development of cities has been seen in the world from the ancient time. The examples of Mohenjo-Daro and Hadappa give support
66 S. R. Solanki to it in India. It can be said that the urbanization is the result of the problem of population. On account of economical development the importance of agriculture becomes less than the industries and services. So the employment increases in such fields. Hence, the villagers migrate towards the cities. After the industrial revolution, the ratio of urbanization had been increased even in developed countries, too. According to classical Economists, the migration of village to city gives impetus to economical development. While according to modern Economists, it creates imbalance of economic, social and basics in economy and problem of urbanization. The villages are becoming vacant and cities are becoming rich in population. So the urbanization has become the matter of concern. 2. THE MEANING OF URBANIZATION The different Economists give the meaning of Urbanization in the following way: 1. According to Eldridge, Urbanization is a concept which shows the centralization of population. 2. According to Ottis, Urbanization means the increase in the living population in cities. 3. According to Bergel, Urbanization is a kind of process in which villages are transformed into cities that is the process of evolution and development of cities. 4. According to Census of India,1961, In an area where there is municipality is known as an urban area whether having features of it or not. 3. THE RATIO OF URBANIZATION IN INDIA According to census in India at every 10 years the ratio of population of cities is as under. Year of Census Rural Population (%) Urban Population (%) 1901 89.16 10.84 1911 89.71 10.29 1921 88.22 11.18 1931 88.06 11.94 1941 86.14 13.86 1951 82.71 17.29 1961 82.03 17.97 1971 80.09 19.91 1981 76.66 23.34 1991 74.28 25.72 2001 72.32 27.78 Source: Census of India. As per the above figures of rural and urban population, it can be said that the ratio of increase in urban population is slow while after independence and particularly due to economic planning the process of urbanization has become fast and so there is a rapid increase in the urban population.
The Problem of Urbanization in India and Its Solution 67 4. THE RESPONSIBLE FACTORS FOR URBANIZATION The economic and non-economic factors are responsible for urbanization. In these, the limited chances of employment in villages, high salary in cities in comparison to villages, the attraction towards city life for villagers, poverty and craze for the imitation, high growth rate of population, social, geographical and educational factors are mainly included. 5. THE PROBLEMS OF URBANIZATION The use of modern technology is increased in cities in the industrial fields. So the figure of employees is increasing more rather than the figure of employment. Hence, urban unemployment increases. It is due to urbanization, the problem of habitat emerges. So people live in filthy Chawls, roads which give birth to theft, loot, prostitution etc The pollution of air, water and noise increases in cities due to industrial development and increasing vehicles. 6. THE SOLUTION OF URBANIZATION To solve the problem of urbanization, we should apply the following solutions: (a) To create Employment at Rural Level: The chief responsible factor for urbanization is limited employment in villages. So, we should try to create more and more employment in rural areas itself. We should develop agricultural industries, rural industries, forests and rural skills in rural areas so as to provide employment as well as deteriorate the migration towards the cities. (b) The Development at Agricultural Level: The main source of income and employment of villagers is based on farming. But unfortunately, even after 59 years of Economic Planning, we are unable to provide the irrigation facility to the useful land for farming. Where the farming is based only on Monsoon, in such areas, it has become difficult to live in such draughty condition. So the more development should be made in agriculture in rural areas and if its
68 S. R. Solanki benefits one reached to the villagers, there will definitely be deterioration in urbanization. (c) The Development of Businesses based on Agriculture: With the development in agriculture in villages, we should start some business based activities on agriculture like animal husbandry, poultry, sowing trees so as to provide employment to the villagers in addition to agriculture. It will increase their income and that will change their attitude of migrating towards cities. (d) Use of Natural Resources of Villages: If we can use the natural resources of villages like land, water, jungles, human wealth, animals etc in sufficient way, the chances for employment can be increased and that will decrease urbanization. (e) To Create Modern Services in Villages: The dearth of facilities like cities in villages is one of the responsible reasons of migration. A young man of village, who comes to city for education, is not ready to go back to his village due to the lack of facilities. Those who have settled in cities are also not ready to make the marriage of their daughters in villages for the same reason. So the facilities like water, habitat, roads, primary education, primary health centers, 24 hours electricity etc should be made available in villages. If the facilities like multiplex theatres, modern hotels and entertainment are provided in villages, it will boost employment and there won t be any difference between cities and villages and that will solve the problem of urbanization. 7. CONCLUSION Urbanization is a dangerous problem for a developing country like India. It is due to urbanization, some economical and social problems emerge in cities which
The Problem of Urbanization in India and Its Solution 69 become difficult to solve. Then, we have only one solution, that is, the development of villages. If the facilities like cities should be created in villages and employment should be created, there will surely be deterioration in urbanization. The report of United Nations 2008 says that when the population of cities will be 50 percentage due to over population in India, the condition of cities will become complex. So, it is necessary to develop villages from right now. Vasati by Dr. S. N. Agrawal. References Nagar Samajshashtra by Prof. A. G. Shah and Prof. J.K.Dave. Parichay Pustika 1061 Vasati Ganatari-2001 by Shree Jitendra N. Antani. Daily Newspaper dated 13-01-2008.