URBANIZATION: Inward Migration or Outward Expansion Of City

1. What is the meaning of term Urbanization?

• It is a process of getting Urbanized. It means that the region started showing urban characteristics such as large industrial areas, large housing settlement and civic amenities.
• Urbanization is an indicator of development of a society. More urbanization means more opportunities and more employment for the people.
• It is the rapid and unplanned urbanization which is problematic as infrastructure is unable to support the rising population. This also goes against the principles of sustainable development.

2. How does this urbanization takes place?

• Broadly it can happen in two ways.
• One is the migration of people from the rural to urban areas. As cities provide more opportunities for earning and improving the standard of living, people migrate to urban areas. This can happen through both push or pull factors.
• Second is the expansion of urban areas to the nearby villages. This is what happened in Gurgaon and other NCR regions. Technically, an urban area is defined as having apopulation of more than 5000 people. More than 75% of its population must be involved in non-agricultural activities an the density of population must be greater than 1000 persons/ square mile.

3. How does the urbanization affects the way of life of people?

• First of all, it must be clear that urban way of life is different from rural way of life. Rural areas have more of traditional way of living but the urban areas have been affected by modernization and westernization.
• So, when people migrate from rural areas they bring rural way of life into urban areas and when expansion of city takes place the urban way of life reaches the rural areas. So, there is symbiotic relationship between both.
• But, conflicts also arose because of this transfer of values. For e.g. Inspired by modern values if a person challenges the caste system and marry outside his caste then the Khap Panchayats retaliate back by out casting the person.Other negative impacts on rural areas are breakdown of joint family system, increasing divorce rates, etc.
• Positive ones are bringing urban prosperity in rural areas, urban employment is symbol of status in villages,inflow of technology such as TV, internet, etc.

4. What are the problems of Urban areas?

• Inadequate Housing leading to Slums
• Unsafe and Insufficient Water Supply
• Insufficient and Inadequate Transport Facilities
• Pollution and Environmental Decay
• Crime and Deviant Social Activities.
• Lack of Proper Employment leading to Poverty
• Lack of Proper Solid Waste Management

5. How to solve these problems?

• Provide subsidized housing for the poor people. Implement RAY in letter and spirit
• Water pipelines must be properly managed. Keep them away from sewer pipelines. Also ensure regular water supply at the minimum price.
• Encourage public transport. Go for metro trains as done in Delhi and other cities.
• Regulate strict pollution controls. Ban the vehicles not following the pollution norms. Set the industrial plants away from the city. Provide LPG connection to the poor people so that they don't use fuel wood. Also, promote renewable sources of energy.
• Recent NIRBAHAYA incident is an example of urban crime. Monitor the anti-social elements carefully. Provide them some employment.Map the vulnerable areas and deploy more police. Sensitize the people about women safety.
• Open more industries by implementing the manufacturing policy. Train them and provide the required skills. 
• Segregation of waste at source needs to be done. Conservation of water must be promoted.

6. What are the problems of slums and how they can be solved?

• The occupancy per room is very high. In Mumbai, average occupancy around 5 persons per room. Other infrastructural problems are lack of electricity, drinking water and nutritious food.
• It acts as a transition point from rural to urban migration. It helps to maintain the rural way of life in urban areas. 
• It provides anonymity to its members which is conducive to criminal tendencies. Child delinquency is a major factor in urban crime.
• One solution can be the reconstruction of slums by clearing the slums and replace them by low coast housing with infrastructural facilities. But, it needs a lot of will power and needs assertion from slum people. Mainly, the authorities are interested in clearing slums for some shopping mall or cyber parks.

7. What is PURA model and how it will help to address the problems of urbanization?

• PURA means Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas. Its aim is to develop a group of Gram Panchayats and provide livelihood opportunities in that area so that people don't migrate to urban areas. Thus, they will enjoy urban facilities by living in rural areas.
• It focuses on connectivity. These are Physical connectivity through proper roads and railways, Electronic connectivity through mobile phones and internet, knowledge connectivity by adopting the modern technical knowledge leading to economic connectivity and prosperity.
• This concept was given by former president Abdul Kalam Azad and 7 pilot projects are undergoing to implement the PURA model of development.