RURAL MIGRATION AND ITS IMPACT ON URBANIZATION – A WAY FORWARD

                       (This Paper was accepted for presentation in the University of Mysore)

                                                             (ABSTRACT)

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                               -*Dr. S Vijay Kumar

       According to the census of India 2011, our urban population is 37.7 crore (31.16%). Historically, there has been almost three times growth since 1901 when India’s urban population was only 10.8% of its total population. However, this proportion of urban population is far less than that in many developing and developed countries. As per World Bank and census data: Japan (91.2%), Brazil (84.6%), UK (81.6%), US (80.9%), France (78.6%), Germany (74.5%), Russia (73.77%) and China (50.6%). Thus, the fact is that India still remains predominantly a rural nation. According to the United Nations, the urban population of India will be less than 35% in 2020 and approximately 40% in 2030.  Yet despite this, the number of new urban residents will be substantial. By 2030, another 225 million people will be added to the Indian urban areas, more than the population of Japan and Germany combined. Migration and urbanization are direct manifestations of the process of economic development, especially in the context of present globalization. Understanding, analyzing the causes and consequences of the former in terms of the changes in the distribution of population  and economic activities along with the success and failures is the need of the hour. Rural migration and their absorption in urban areas have created a stress and impacted the process of development of urbanization in several ways. The capacity of the cities and towns to assimilate the migrants by providing employment, education, health, access to land and other basic amenities are limited. The problem has acquired severity and leading to unbalanced urbanization. In this context,  it is right to point out that the UNFA (2007) regards concentration of poverty, growth of slums and social deprivation in cities as the major challenge  of development in less developed countries. Rural migration to urban has often been considered as the major factor for growth of slums and a challenge for development in urban areas. United Nations has warned that rapid urbanization and migration would lead to tripling of slums by 2050. Migrants to the large cities that have global linkages has become relatively more difficult as persons need access to information, latest technology, market friendly skills and banking knowledge etc. in this digital world. In this context, my objectives of Paper:

Objectives:

1). Understanding  Rural – Urban Migration

2). Causes of Rural – Urban Migration

3). Reasons to Migrate

4). Impacts of Migration

5). Effects of Rural - Urban Migration

6). Types of Migration

7). Factors affecting Migration – Globalization & Marketization

8). A Way Forward - Suggestions and Conclusion.

Methodology: The Study is based on empirical data and information accessed from different sources like Census of India, Economic Surveys, GOI and other relevant Websites. National and International Journals and Reports.

Key Words: Rural, Urban, Migration, Urbanization, Impact, Causes, Globalization, India Census

*HOD & Professor (Associate) of Economics (Retd.), Kakatiya Government PG College (NAAC “A” Grade), Former Member of BOS,  Kakatiya University, Warangal, Telangana State.