Urbanization refers to the process by which a growing proportion of a population comes to live in cities and other urban areas and the ways in which this affects society and the environment. It is a global phenomenon that has been driven by a variety of factors, including economic development, technological change, and population growth.
According to the 2011 Census, the urban population in India was about 31.2% of the total population. This is projected to grow around 40% of the total population by 2030.
1. Impact on Family and Kinship Structures:
Transformation in Family Structure:
- Urbanization has led to a shift from joint families to nuclear families, primarily due to spatial constraints, job mobility, and the pursuit of individual goals.
- Although 74% of families were nuclear in residence, they remained joint in property and function, indicating transitional forms of kinship.
- Small joint family is now the most typical in urban India, showing a trend towards functional individualism but not complete detachment from kinship.
Weakening of Kin Ties:
- Distant kinship ties are weakening, and inter-generational bonds are stressed due to migration and impersonal urban lifestyles.
2. Urbanization and Caste Dynamics:
Persistence with Transformation:
- Contrary to popular belief, caste continues to persist in urban areas, but with altered forms — such as caste-based housing, matrimonial preferences, and social networks.
- Class is also increasingly becoming a social identifier, particularly among the westernized elite.
Workplace vs Domestic Caste Practices:
- A dichotomy exists: while workplaces are more merit-based and less caste-dominated, domestic and social spheres often remain influenced by caste.
3. Changing Status of Women:
Economic participation of women:
- Urbanization has enabled greater female participation in white-collar professions, enhancing autonomy and delaying marriage age.
- Women from middle and upper classes benefit from education and career opportunities, leading to higher social status in urban areas.
Continuity of Traditional Norms:
- Despite professional progress, women continue to face dual burdens—managing both domestic responsibilities and professional demands.
- The dowry system and arranged marriages remain prevalent even in cities, indicating incomplete transformation of gender norms.
Class Disparity Among Women:
- While educated women rise in professions, lower-class women remain in informal sectors without job security or social mobility.
4. Urban Mobility and Infrastructure Challenges:
- Only 37% of urban residents have access to public transport (Economic Survey), compared to >50% in Brazil and China.
- Metro systems, while aspirational, are capital-intensive, fare-sensitive, and often lack last-mile connectivity.
- Congestion, air pollution, and poorly designed roads reduce the efficiency and inclusiveness of urban transit.
5. Broader Social and Environmental Impacts:
- Slums: According to Census 2011, 17% of urban population lives in slums; in Mumbai, it’s over 50%.
- Overcrowding: In cities like Kanpur and Pune, 85–90% of households live in just one or two rooms.
- Pollution: WHO lists Delhi among the world’s most polluted cities. Urban rivers carry untreated sewage and industrial effluents.
- Social Fragmentation: Ghettoization, gated communities, and relative deprivation contribute to increased crime and reduced group solidarity.
Measures for Inclusive and Sustainable Urbanization:
1. Urban Mobility and Transportation:
- Shift focus to low-cost, scalable transport systems such as trams, electric buses (e-buses) and Trolleybuses
- Improve last-mile connectivity through feeder services, walking paths, and non-motorized transport options.
- Enhance pedestrian infrastructure to make cities walkable and inclusive.
2. Housing and Urban Redevelopment:
- Promote affordable and mixed-income housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
- Utilize Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to drive urban redevelopment and infrastructure growth efficiently.
3. Waste Management and Sustainability:
- Implement Waste-to-Energy (WtE) solutions to tackle solid waste challenges sustainably.
- Promote composting and segregation at source to minimize landfill dependency.
- Establish a dedicated Waste to Energy Corporation of India (WECI) to centralize efforts and funding for waste management.
4. Urban Governance and Planning:
- Set up a National Urban Development Authority (NUDA) to monitor and guide urban planning and development nationwide.
- Strengthen Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) by enhancing their technical capacity, financial autonomy, Planning and execution roles
5. Social Inclusion and Spatial Equity:
- Promote inclusive zoning laws to avoid segregation and ghettoization based on caste, class, or religion.
- Foster community well-being through community centers, public parks and green open spaces
6. Women’s Participation and Empowerment:
- Create inclusive urban workplaces with on-site crèches, flexible working hours, Safe and reliable transport
- Extend formal sector opportunities to low-income urban women to reduce gender disparity in employment.
7. Environmental Conservation:
- Enforce green building codes to promote energy efficiency in construction.
- Develop urban forests and green corridors to combat pollution and improve livability.
- Revive and conserve urban water bodies to enhance water security and urban biodiversity.
Conclusion:
For Viksit Bharat @2047 to be realized, India must adopt a multi-pronged, inclusive, and environment-friendly urbanization model that recognizes the country’s unique socio-cultural diversity and developmental challenges.
‘+1’ Value addition:
- Of the 121 crore Indians, 83.3 crore live in rural areas while 37.7 crore stay in urban areas, i.e. approx. 32 % of the population.
- Cities contribute to 63 % of Indian GDP. The increasing population has caused extreme stress on urban amenities.
Examples of Sustainable Urban Solutions:
- Indore: Topped ‘Swachh Survekshan Awards’ for waste management innovation.
- Chandigarh: Renowned for its planned urban layout and green mobility infrastructure.
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