Page 1 of 11
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 01
January 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 8
Challenges Posed By Urbanization and Urban Growth
Lalita
Research Scholar (M. Phil)
Department of Public Administration
M. D. University, Rohtak (Haryana)
ABSTRACT: Urbanization is a process through which a certain type of changes could be traced
over a period of time in a particular range of geographical area due to the population shift from
rural to urban. It is expected that about 64% of developing world and 86% of developed world
will be urbanized by 2050. Challenges posed by urbanization and urban growth is relevant to a
range of disciplines including geography, sociology, economics, urban planning, law and order,
environmental and public health. The present paper high-light the multi-faceted challenges
posed by urbanization and urban growth along with comparative study of evolutionary
development of developing and developed world. The paper concludes that challenges posed by
urbanization on employment, provision of social services, urban sprawl, traffic congestion,
pollution, encroachment of agricultural land, loss of cultural affinity, public health etc. are very
severe but at the same time if all these challenges could be tackled efficiently, it also provides an
opportunity for sustainable development. The phenomenon has been closely linked to
modernization and industrialization. Therefore this paper recommends that government should
take responsibilities to address the challenges with commitment to overcome them and take
advantage of the prospects inherent in urbanization and urban growth.
Keywords: Urbanization, Urban, Growth, Multi-faceted, Evolutionary, Sustainable
Development, Encroachment.
URBANIZATION AND URBAN GROWTH AN INTRODUCTION:
Urbanization refers to the proportion of the population of a country who live in urban
areas and the increase in the number of people living in urban settlements over a period of time.
It involves rural to urban migration. When there is an increase in the number (not proportion) of
urban dwellers in a particular area or region with the phenomenon of the migration is termed as
urban growth. Demographically, urban areas could be identified as municipalities, cantonments
and civil lines. All areas which would be satisfying the criteria of (I) minimum population of
Page 2 of 11
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 01
January 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 9
five thousand persons (II), more then 75% people involved with secondary occupation and (III),
density of the region exceeded by 400 persons per square kilometre.
Historically Urbanization in India have been linked with the fortification of town and cities in
regional context. Harappan civilization could be traced as a first example followed by rising of
mahajan-padas gradually shaping in the form of Mauryan Empire. Urbanization of mediaeval
period recognised as third phase of urban growth, and fourth phase aligned with Urbanization
under British Rule closely linked with Industrial Revolution. Therefore, periodically agrarian
revolution followed by Industrial and Transport Revolution have seen sparked off another great
revolution i.e. Urban Revolution.
POPULATION GROWTH:
Proportion of urban population is rising rapidly. It was 13% in 1900, 49% in 2005 and
estimated that it will exceeded by 60% by 2030. In 2008, half of the world population (51.2%)
lived in urban areas. In 2050, 64% population of the developing countries and 86% of developed
countries will be living in urban areas. A study revealed that U.S.A & UK have highest level of
urbanization.
India is one of the fast urbanizing countries in Asia. According to 2011 census, Urban
population of India is 377.1 million i.e. ~31% of the whole. It is estimated that in 2030, it will
reach up to 41%. The number of towns is also increasing. In 2001, total no of town was 5161
while in 2011 it was 7742. The number of class I cities in 2001 was 394 while in 2011, it
increased to 468. Thus, it indicates that the trend of urbanization in India is increasing.
The term Urbanization signifies a worldwide phenomenon and it is irreversible. It signifies a
growing influence on all aspects of life, affecting the nature of economic development,
demographic, ethnic and many other social processes. Western experience recognised that
urbanization means a breakdown of traditional social institutions and values. In Indian context,
urbanization can note, among other things, ‘the caste system has been converted into class
system’ and nuclear family has emerged from joint families. Highly secularised form of society
could be traced as as outcome of the urbanization.
Migration is an important process of urbanization and urban growth along with societal change.
Migration is a process of cultural evolution also. Migration brings new ideas, skills and hosts of
Page 3 of 11
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 01
January 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 10
cultural practices related to food, dance, music, dress-cote etc. which have seen important
elements of transformation in urban centre.
Here, kinds of egalitarian society have evolved due to amalgamation of caste and rituals.
Migration is primarily concerned with pull and push factors of developmental need.
This is not only benefit in the form of societal change but urbanization is important mechanism
of development. It also helps in overall economic development of the country because due to
urbanization, a local talent gets amalgamated whether it is in sports, business, entertainment or
any other area. By using talent of local people many industries are growing further which in turn
helping the country to scaling its GDP. Urban areas have been recognised as ‘engines of
inclusive economic growth’. This phenomenon has been closely linked to modernisation and
industrialisation. Availability of basic facilities like school, hospital, banks etc. is another
facilitating element which could enhance living standards of people.
This was only one side of the coin, if you turn another side, the challenges posed by the
urbanization and urban growth could have the capacity to waive out the very existence of
mankind. This is because of multi-faceted challenges having seen interconnected one factor to
another. Challenges posed by urbanization are relevant to a range of disciplines including
sociological, economic, environmental, public health along with problems of law and order.
SOCIOLOGICAL CHALLENGES:
One of the outcomes of urbanization is that it converted joint family into nuclear one.
Young age persons who are the productive assets of a family have seen pulled out from their
parental home, left behind only old age persons and children. It created another section of
vulnerable group. Lack of caring facilities for unproductive population i.e. old age persons,
children etc. imposed high burden on head of the family. Younger generations, willingly or
unwillingly are unable to give appropriate care to their dependents. They started behaving like a
self-constant mind-sets. Sometimes they also got affected by psychological enigma because of
hard life of urban areas. Thus, cultural affinities have seen degrading day by day.
India has more than 50% of its population below the age of 25 and more than 65% below the age
of 35. It is expected that in 2020, the average age of an Indian will be 29 years, as compared to
37 of china and 48 of japan and by 2030 India’s dependency ratio would be just over 0.4.
