Urbanisation- Problems and Remedies | Indian Society for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change.
Causes of Urbanisation:

1. Natural increase of population: It occurs when the number of births exceeds the number of deaths.
2. Rural to urban migration: It is driven by pull factors (that attract people to urban areas) and push factors (that drive people away from the rural areas).
   • Employment opportunities, educational institutions and urban lifestyle are the main pull factors.
   • Poor living conditions, lack of educational and economic opportunities and poor health care facilities are the main push factors.
3. Currently, India’s population stood at 1210 million in 2011, with an urbanisation level of 31.1% (Census of India 2011).

State-wise Scenario:

• Currently, India’s population stood at 1210 million in 2011, with an urbanisation level of 31.1% (Census of India 2011).

Number of Persons Living in Urban Areas:

• Over 75% of the urban population of the country is in 10 States: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Kerala.
• Maharashtra leads with 50.8 million persons (13.5% of the total urban population of the country).
• Uttar Pradesh accounts for about 44.4 million, followed by Tamil Nadu at 34.9 million.

High-Scoring States: Goa is the most urbanised State with 62.2% urban population.

• Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat have attained over 40% urbanisation.
• Among the North-Eastern States, Mizoram is the most urbanised with 51.5% urban population.

Low-Scoring States: Bihar, Odisha, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh continue to be at a lower level of urbanisation than the national average.
Union Territories: The NCT of Delhi and the UT of Chandigarh are most urbanized with 97.5% and 97.25% urban population respectively, followed by Daman and Diu and Lakshadweep (both above 75% urbanisation).
India’s Global Commitments regarding Urban Development:

• The SDGs Goal 11 promotes urban planning as one of the recommended methods for achieving sustainable development.
• The UN-Habitat’s New Urban Agenda was adopted in 2016.
  1. It puts forth principles for the planning, construction, development, management, and improvement of urban areas.
• The UN-Habitat (2020) suggests that the spatial conditions of a city can enhance its power to generate social, economic and environmental value and well-being.
• Paris Agreement: India’s National Determined Contributions (NDCs) includes the goals to reduce the emission intensity of the country's GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 level.

Issues Associated to Urbanisation

1. Excessive Population Pressure: On the one hand, the rural-urban migration accelerates the pace of urbanisation, on the other, it creates excessive population pressure on the existing public utilities.
   • Consequently, the cities suffer from the problems of slums, crime, unemployment, urban poverty, pollution, congestion, ill-health and several deviant social activities.
2. Overflowing Slums: There are about 13.7 million slum households in the country sheltering a population of 65.49 million people across the country.
   • As much as 65% of Indian cities have adjoining slums where people live in small houses adjacent to each other.
3. Inadequate Housing: Among the numerous social problems of urbanisation, the problem of housing is the most distressing.
   • A vast majority of urban population live under conditions of poor shelter and in highly congested spaces.
   • In India, more than half of the urban households occupy a single room, with an average occupancy per room of 4.4 persons.
4. Unplanned Development: The model of building a developed city comprises unplanned development, which only bolsters the dichotomy prevailing in urban cities between the rich and the poor.
5. Pandemic-Induced Problems: The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the misery of urban poor or slum dwellers.
   • The sudden implementation of complete Covid lockdown severely affected the ability of slum dwellers to earn their living.
6. Non-Inclusive Welfare Schemes: The benefits of welfare schemes for urban poor often reach only a small part of the intended beneficiaries.
   • Most relief funds and benefits do not reach slum dwellers, mainly because these settlements are not officially recognised by the government.

India’s Initiatives for Urbanisation:

Schemes/Programmes Related to Urban Development:

• Smart Cities- It is an innovative initiative under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people by enabling local development and harnessing technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens.
• Objective: To promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of Smart Solutions.
• Focus: On sustainable and inclusive development and to look at compact areas, create a replicable model which will act like a lighthouse to other aspiring cities.
• Develop areas step-by-step with the help of these three models:
  1. Retrofitting.
  2. Redevelopment.
  3. Greenfield.

AMRUT Mission (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation). 

1. To ensure that every household has access to a tap with the assured supply of water and a sewerage connection.
   • The Priority zone of the Mission is water supply followed by sewerage.
2. To increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (e.g. parks).
3. To reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport (e.g. walking and cycling).

 Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban- Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) has achieved its target of creating Urban India Open Defecation Free (ODF).
ODF, ODF+ and ODF++ Protocol:

• Norms under ODF: No visible faeces shall found in the environment and every household, as well as public/community institutions, should be using safe technology option for disposal of faeces.
• Norms under ODF+: Not a single person should be defecating and/or urinating in open. All community and public toilets should be properly maintained and cleaned.
• Norms under ODF++: Proper treatment and management of faecal sludge/septage and sewage is safely managed and treated. There should be no discharge or dumping of untreated faecal sludge/septage and sewage in drains, water bodies or open areas.
• HRIDAY-Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana

The HRIDAY scheme conserves heritage and urban planning and promotes economic growth in heritage cities. It emphasizes enhancing accessibility, security, safety, livelihood opportunities, cleanliness, and prompt service delivery within these cities.

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban-To help rural people Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of a full grant.

NITI AAYOG ON URBANISATION

• National metro rail policy: There is a need for a national metro rail policy that will ensure that metro projects are not considered in isolation, but as part of a comprehensive plan of overall public transportation.
• Manpower training: Indian cities also need to overhaul their municipal staffing and introduce appropriate skills to achieve administrative efficiency.
• Waste to Energy authority: To speed up the process of cleaning up municipal solid waste, NITI Aayog suggests the creation of an authority may be called Waste to Energy Corporation of India (WECI) and placed under the Ministry of Urban Development.
• Financial power: Well-run ULBs should have the power to raise financial resources including through municipal bonds.
• Financial management: Introduction of Standardised, time-bound, audited balance sheets across ULBs would help improve financial management as well as spur further reforms in this area.
• Traffic Management: Strict enforcement of traffic rules through fines in case of violations can induce behavioral change and could greatly reduce both the travel time and pollution.
• Vehicle-sharing system: Incentives may be created to encourage vehicle-sharing systems such as Ola and Uber.