CAUSES OF URBANISATION Urban population increase reflects the outcome of 3 separate forces: The Natural Increase in Population within

the Urban Areas - Urbanization takes place when the birth rate is higher than the death rate in the urban sector. The contribution of natural increase in urban growth in terms of absolute numbers is about 40 million (201011) which continues to be huge due to the large base of the urban population. The Migration of Rural Dwellers to Urban Areas - Urbanization is regarded as one of the indicators of development because it is an integral part of the process of industrialization. But urbanization process in India is 'Migration Led'. People migrate to cities not due to urban pull but due to rural push, since it is poverty induced. Economic, Environment and Demographic factors - Migration flows are determined by a complex interaction of economic, environment and demographic factors. The current spate of migration from rural to urban location is distress migration led by poverty, unemployment, natural calamities and underdevelopment at the origin place. The intra district and inter district movement comprises largest share of migration i.e., 61.6 % and 23.7% respectively. While inter state and inter district migration comprises of 13.1 % and 5.1 % respectively. Factors affecting Migration and Urbanization can be studied under 2 groups: A. Push Factors: In this category we include all those factors that compel the rural people to move to urban areas. In India people migrate from rural to urban areas mainly due to poverty, high population pressure on the land, lack of basic infrastructural facilities like health care, education, etc. Apart from these factors, natural disasters such as, flood, drought, cyclonic storms, earthquake, tsunami, wars and local conflicts also give extra push to migrate. As a result of process of urbanization, the migration to megacities like Bombay, Kolkata, Delhi experiences a serious unemployment problem due to the fact that there are already unemployed people in these cities and more are added to it because of migration. The developing industries of these cities are incapable of providing the employment. The problem of survival couples a part of the population to move to smaller towns. Some economists call it as Push Back factors. B. Pull Factors: These factors are those factors that attract the rural people towards cities and towns. The most important pull factor for majority of the rural migrants to urban areas is the better opportunities, availability of regular work and relatively higher wages. Better opportunities for education, better health facilities and sources of entertainment, etc. are also quite important pull factors. The wage rate prevalent in rural area is lower than the wage rate of urban area. The availability of more employment opportunities in urban areas as compared to rural areas. CHARACTERSTICS OF MIGRATED PEOPLE

1. Population based characteristics: In India people in the age group between 15 25 years generally migrate from the rural area to the urban area. The aged people are incapable to put hard work and having limited skills, as a result they do not get proper employment in urban areas. So they prefer to stay in villages only. Youths with some education can acquire necessary skill and employment in urban areas. In recent years because of increase in and better availability of educational facilities for women there migration has also increased. The women migration can be explained by TWO ways: One they migrate to urban areas as a housewife or as a daughter or other relations with the male. Secondly there are women leaving the rural areas for urban areas who are self-reliant and self-made. They leave villages for better economic activates so that they can improve their life. 2. Educational Characteristics: There is a specific relationship between the level of education and desire to migrate. In village young boys and girls who have completed school education have a desire to go to the city. Here especially those boys and girls, who have completed higher secondary school and college education move to the cities, will get better jobs in the city. They feel that the villages do not have good employment opportunities as compared to the cities. Even those with good education return back either to small towns or their own villages in a traditional family business they do not get appropriate work as per their qualifications. 3. Economic Characteristics: A large number of people who migrate from the rural areas to urban areas are poor, landless agricultural workers, unskilled labourers and tribals. They have no possibilities to get job in the villages. In the past, in India the villagers were migrating to cities to earn their livelihood in certain seasons. Many farm labourers, small farmers come for labour work in the cities, especially when they have no work in agriculture. They return to their village at the time of sowing and harvesting. Recently modern industrial sector has been setup in cities or urban areas, this encouraged migration on permanent basis in urban areas. Their number has increased. EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION In many countries of the world especially in developing countries the process of economic development accompanied by the urbanization has created various effects on their economy. These effects can be positive and negative: Adverse effects or Disadvantages of Urbanization A. Slums: There is increasing competition for facilities due to the high standard of living in urban areas, which has triggered several negative effects. Many people including farmers who move to cities in search of a better life end up as casual laborers as they lack adequate education. This leads to one of the worst problems of urbanization - the growth of slums. Slums are urban areas that are heavily populated with substandard housing and very poor living conditions. As a result several problems arise. a) Land insecurity: Slums are usually located on land, which are not owned by the slum dwellers. They can be evicted at any time by the landowners.

b) Poor living conditions - Crowding and lack of sanitation are main problems. This contributes to outbreak of diseases. Utilities such as water, electricity and sewage disposal are also scarce. c) Unemployment - Since the number of people competing for jobs is more than jobs available, unemployment is an inevitable problem. d) Crime - Slum conditions make maintenance of law and order difficult. Patrolling of slums is not a priority of law enforcing officers. Unemployment and poverty force people into antisocial activities. Slums become a breeding ground for criminal activities.

B. Environmental Impacts of urbanization Temperature - Due to factors such as paving over formerly vegetated land, increasing number of residences and high-rise apartments and industries, temperature increases drastically. Air pollution -Factories and automobiles are symbols of urbanization. Due to harmful emissions of gases and smoke from factories and vehicles, air pollution occurs. Current research shows high amount of suspended particulate matter in air, particularly in cities, which contributes to allergies and respiratory problems thereby becoming a huge health hazard. Water issues -When urbanization takes place, water cycle changes as cities have more precipitation than surrounding areas. Due to dumping of sewage from factories in water bodies, water pollution occur which can lead to outbreaks of epidemics. Destruction of Habitats -To make an area urbanized, a lot of forested areas are destroyed. Usually these areas would have been habitats to many birds and animals. Benefits or Advantages of Urbanization Efficiency -Cities are extremely efficient. Less effort is needed to supply basic amenities such as fresh water and electricity. Research and recycling programs are possible only in cities. In most cities flats are in vogue today. Many people can be accommodated within a small land area. Convenience -Access to education, health, social services and cultural activities is readily available to people in cities than in villages. Life in cities is much more advanced, sophisticated and comfortable, compared to life in villages. Cities have advanced communication and transport networks. Concentration of resources -Since major human settlements were established near natural resources from ancient times, a lot of resources are available in and around cities. A lot of facilities to exploit these resources also exist only in cities. Educational facilities -Schools, colleges and universities are established in cities to develop human resources. A variety of educational courses and fields are available offering students a wide choice for their future careers. Social integration -People of many castes and religions live and work together in cities, which creates better understanding and harmony and helps breakdown social and cultural barriers. Improvements in economy -High-tech industries earn valuable foreign exchange and lot of money for a country in the stock markets.