Question
Give the Meaning of Urbanization and Explain its Process.

Answer

$1.$ Introduction:
  • Urbanization is an outcome of economic developmental process.
  • During the process of development industries and infrastructural facilities develop agriculture sector migrate to industrial sector which makes urbanization faster.
$2.$ Meaning of Urbanization $($Definition$):$
  • In ordinary meaning migration of population from rural area to urban area is called urbanization.
  • Urbanization is a social and economic process in which the population is centralized in one area which results into city or town.
  • Due to urbanization, population gets concentrated.
  • Urbanization is closely related to industrial and service sector.
  • The concept of town and city are different in various countries.
  • In each country its definition varies. Its definition varies in the same country too.
  • As a result it is difficult to know the percentage increased in urbanization.
$3.$ Definition of Urbanization In India $($Meaning$):$
  • In $1951$ in India the definition of a town or a city was very broad compare to $1941$ there was much increase in the population of city or town in $1951$ But by $1961$ the definition became narrow.
  • The following definitions were adopted during the census of $1971, 1981, 1991$ and $2001:$
$(1)$ All those areas be considered town or city in which municipality, corporation, cantonment board or notified area committee exists.
$(2)$ All those areas be considered as town or city in which following criteria exist.
$(a)\ 5000$ or more population live in that area.
$(b)$ More than $75%$ active males are employed in non-agricultural sector.
  • Density of population is 400 or more per square kilometer.
$4.$ Process of Urbanization:
  • Urbanization occurs in three types.
$(1)$ Compare to rural area people in the urban area are more aware regarding health and hygiene, education, and standard of living.
  • They are more conscious regarding epidemic.
  • In the urban areas, health related facilities are easily available.
  • Therefore death rate is lower than birth rate in urban areas and population increases.
  • This increase in population is called natural population growth.
$(2)$ As there is change in the definition of village and town, areas, many rural areas have been merged into cities which have increased urban population.
  • These merged villages have been upgraded E.g. Ahmedabad, Baroda.
$(3)$ Urbanization increases when people from villages migrate to the cities and towns.
  • Pull and push factors are responsible for urbanization.
  • They play vital role in urbanization.
  • Development of industrialization was very slow during the British rule in India, practically it was nil.
  • After independence Indian government framed and adopted the policy to encourage industrialization and increased urbanization.
  • However the process of this time was quite slow and progress was observed only in certain cities.
  • But after economic reforms of $1991$ policy of liberalization to encourage industrialization was adopted and along with that service sector developed significantly which encouraged urbanization.
  • The evidence of which is given below indicating the growth of population.
Year Percentage of Urban Population
$1961$
$1971$
$1981$
$1991$
$2001$
$2011$
$1797\%$
$19.91\%$
$23.34\%$
$25.32\%$
$27.86\%$
$31.16\%$
  • Conclusion:
$(1)$ As per census of $2011\ 37.7\%$ people live in the cities which is $31.16\%$ population of the nation. Approximately $32\%$ population lives in city.
$(2)$ In $1961,$ approximately $18\%$ population lived in cities which has increased to approximately $32\%$ in $2011.$​​​​​​​
  • After industrialization all over the world the process of urbanization is increasing.
  • In the $20th$ century revolution in transport sector has encouraged the process of urbanization.
  • In the same way if the process of industrialization continues $2/3$ of the population of the would be living in the cities.

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