Urbanization and Urbanism

Definition and Difference between Urbanization and Urbanism

1. Urbanization and Urbanism Deepika Deswal Ph.D Resaerch scholar Department of Sociology Chaudhary Charan singh Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar

2. What is urbanization Urbanization means an increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas compared to rural areas. An urban area is a built-up area such as a town or city. A rural area is an area of countryside. As a country industrializes, the number of people living in urban areas tends to increase. It is the growth of cities, brought about by a population shift from rural areas and small communities to large ones, and the change from a largely agricultural economy to an industrial one. This results in the development of cities and towns on formerly agricultural or natural lands.

3. Definition of Urbanization Urbanization: Urbanization is the movement of population from rural to urban areas and the resulting increasing proportion of a population that resides in urban rather than rural places. Thompson Warren (Encyclopedia of Social Sciences) has defined it as “the movement of people from communities concerned chiefly or solely with agriculture to other communities, gen­erally larger whose activities are primarily centered in government, trade, manufacture, or allied interests”. According to Anderson (1953:11), urbanization is not a one-way process but it is a two-way process . It involves not only movement from villages to cities and change from agricultural occupation to business, trade, service and profession, but it also involves change in the migrants’ attitudes, beliefs, values and behaviour patterns. He has given five characteristics of urbanization: money economy, civil administration, cultural changes, written records and innovations.

4. Criteria to decide if a city is urban   For the Census of India 2011, the definition of urban area is as follows: 1. All places with a municipality, corporation, cantonment board or notified town area committee, etc. 2. All other places which satisfied the following criteria: a) A minimum population of 5,000; b) At least 75% of the male main working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits; and c) A density of population of at least 400 persons per sq. km.

5. Features of Urbanization The important features of urbanization are as follows: 1.  Fast Growth in Urban Population : Between 1961-71 the growth rate of population in urban areas was over 38%. This was followed by a still higher growth of 46 per cent during the decade of 1971-81 . Between 1981-91, the growth was, no doubt, somewhat less at over 36 per cent but it was not inconsiderable. 2.  Large Increase in big towns : Another noteworthy feature of urbanization is that there has been a substantial increase in the population of big towns. A substantial increase in population has taken place since 1901 in the big towns, and that a major proportion of urban population resides in them. 3.  Regional Disparities in Urbanization : The above description provides the all-India picture. However, the variations in the level of urbanization in various states are indeed large and rates of urbanization show surprises. Again, there are variations within the regions of each state. All this point to the diversity of conditions/causes that operate in this vast country, and is suggestive of different perceptions and policies in this field.

6. Causes of Urbanization 1. Growing Industrialization 2. Population pressure 3. Employment opportunities 4. In hope of better standard of living 5. Decrease in death rate and growing birth rate 6. In search of social mobility and fortune

7. Negatives outcomes of Urbanization 1. Economical a) Growing rift between rich and poor b) Increased cost of living c) Conflict over scare resources like land, water etc. d) Decrees in agricultural productivity 2. Social a) Growing criminalization in society b) Overpopulation causing accommodation problem and problem of slum c) Unemployment or underemployment d) Providing basic amenities becoming a challenge e) Change in structure of family system

8. 3. Environmental a) Pollution (Land, air, water) b) Sewage and garbage management problems b) Loss of habitat and Biodiversity d) Loss of forest cover and depletion of wildlife 4. Health a) Psychological problems like Stress b) Spread of contiguous diseases c) Drug abuse d) Increase in lifestyle diseases

9. Positive outcomes of Urbanization 1. Economical a. Growth of service sector oriented economy over agricultural economy b. Boost to Infrastructure development c. Increased productivity and economic growth d. Growth of trade and commerce e. Growth of tourism 2. Social a) Spread of education b) Women empowerment and Gender Equality c) Spread of Modern technology d) Availability of medical facility and increase in life expectancy e) Social and cultural integration

10. 3. Political a) Active involvement in politics b) Increased public awareness

11. Characteristics of Urbanization 1.Highest growth rate of urbanization especially in the mega, Class I and metropolitan cities as compared to small cities 2.Informal settlements occupy one-third of the area in large urban centers such as Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai 3. City planning focused only on legitimate area Growing regionalism in face of a migration 4. Increase in slums followed by poverty, unemployment, exploitation, inequality, degradation of quality of life.

12. 5. Urbanization occurs due to rural push 6. Demographic explosion in few areas 7. It has occurred without much industrialization. (Service sector growth) 8. Southern India is more urbanized than Northern and Eastern India.

13. Causes of rapid urbanization 1.   Natural Increase in Population : One important cause of rapid urbanization is the natural increase in population. The number by which the birth rate exceeds the death rate in urban areas gives this. This is probably higher than the rural. The net survival rate is also higher on account of the availability of the health and medical facilities. 2.   Migrations from Rural Areas : Migrations from rural areas is another factor responsible for rapid urbanization. At the moment their number is not exactly known. But it can be guessed that it may be something to do with the swelling of urban population. The rural to urban migrations have been caused by several factors in the past since Independence.

14. Industrial development has, for example, led to creation of many activities of manufacturing, trading etc. attracting rural people seeking jobs, higher incomes etc. Backwardness of the villages in respect of living conditions is another factor pushing people out of the villages. The availability of many opportunities for good education and living in urban areas etc. have also attracted rural people to the urban areas.

15. 3. Boundary Changes: As cities expanded, the outlaying rural areas have been included in the urban areas. They may even continue to retain most of the characteristics of villages. But they are counted as urban population by virtue of being classified as urban areas. Population falling in these areas also swells the number of urban population.

16. Various government schemes to tackle problem of Urbanization 1. Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission  - for providing urban amenities in rural areas. 2. JNNURM(Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban renewal mission) in 2005 for focused and integrated development of the urban infrastructure and services 3. Rajiv Awas Yojana  2011 for creating “slum free India” 4. Skill India  scheme March 2015 for skill development and entrepreneurship 5. National Urban Transport Policy, 2006  to address the transport needs of city dwellers 6. Smart city initiative 2014  for creating 100 smart cities 7. Swachh Bharat 2014  for clean urban area 8. Din Dayal Antyodaya  – To provide employment opportunities to poor.

17. Urbanism According to Theodorson , 1969: 453. Urbanism is a way of life. It reflects an organization of society in terms of a complex division of labour , high levels of technology, high mobility, interdependence of its members in fulfilling economic functions and impersonality in social relations. Urbanism  is the study of cities - their geographic, economic, political, social and cultural environment, and the imprint of all these forces on the built environment.

18. Urbanism  is the study of the characteristic ways of interaction of inhabitants of towns and cities  (urban areas) with the built environment. It is a direct component of disciplines such as urban planning (the physical design and management of urban structures) and urban sociology (the study of urban life and culture).

19. History of urbanism Urbanism's emergence in the early 20th century was associated with the rise of centralized manufacturing, mixed-use neighborhoods, social organizations and networks, and what has been described as "the convergence between political, social and economic citizenship". Urbanism can be understood as  placemaking  and the creation of place identity at a city-wide level, however as early as 1938 Louis Wirth wrote that it is necessary to stop 'identify[ ing ] urbanism with the physical entity of the city', go 'beyond an arbitrary boundary line' and consider how 'technological developments in transportation and communication have enormously extended the urban mode of living beyond the confines of the city itself.' 

20. BENEFITS OF URBANISM BENEFITS TO RESIDENTS Higher quality of life ; Better places to live, work, & play; Higher, more stable property values; Less traffic congestion & less driving; Healthier lifestyle with more walking, and less stress; Close proximity to main street retail & services; Close proximity to bike trails, parks, and nature ; Pedestrian friendly communities offer more opportunities to get to know others in the neighborhood and town, resulting in meaningful relationships with more people, and a friendlier town; More freedom and independence to children , elderly, and the poor in being able to get to jobs and recreation.

21. 2. BENEFITS TO BUSINESSES Increased sales due to more foot traffic & people spending less on cars and gas; More profits due to spending less on advertising and large signs; Better lifestyle by living above shop in live-work units - saves the stressful & costly commute; Economies of scale in marketing due to close proximity and cooperation with other local businesses; Smaller spaces promote small local business incubation; Lower rents due to smaller spaces & smaller parking lots; Healthier lifestyle due to more walking and being near healthier restaurants.

22. 3. BENEFITS TO DEVELOPERS   More income potential from higher density mixed-use projects due to more leasable square footage, more sales per square foot, and higher property values and selling prices ; Faster approvals in communities that have adopted smart growth principles resulting in cost / time savings ; Cost savings in parking facilities in mixed-use properties due to sharing of spaces throughout the day and night, resulting in less duplication in providing parking; Less need for parking facilities due to mix of residences and commercial uses within walking distance of each other; Less impact on roads / traffic, which can result in lower impact fees; Lower cost of utilities due to compact nature of New Urbanist design;

23. 4. BENEFITS TO MUNICIPALITIES Stable, appreciating tax base; Less spent per capita on infrastructure and utilities than typical suburban development due to compact, high-density nature of projects ; Increased tax base due to more buildings packed into a tighter area ; Less traffic congestion due to walkability of design; Less crime and less spent on policing due to the presence of more people day and night; Less resistance from community; Better overall community image and sense of place; Less incentive to sprawl when urban core area is desirable; Easy to install transit where it's not, and improve it where it is; Greater civic involvement of population leads to better governance

24. Disadvantage of urbanism High cost of living Lack of personal relationship Pollution Overcrowding High rate crime