Urbanization- Meaning, Definition, Factors or Causes and Effects
# Urbanization
It is derived from the Latin ‘Urbs’ a term used by the Roman to a city.
Urbanization is the movement of population from rural to urban areas and the resulting increasing proportion of population that resides in urban rather than rural places.
Urbanization refers to the process of increase in the number of people living in urban areas and the ways in which the population adapts to the change. Urbanization increases with industrialization. As urbanization increases, a number of towns and cities increases and people begin to live and work in central areas. Urbanization is a result of the historic transformation of human societies, where the rural culture is being replaced by urban culture.
# Definition of Urbanization
1. According to Louis Wirth:- “Urbanization is a process of extension or accentuation of the mode of life, characteristic of a city.”
2. According to J.C. Mitchell:- “Urbanization is the process of becoming urban, moving to cities, changing from agriculture to other pursuits common to cities and corresponding changing of behavior patterns.”
# Effect OR Impacts of Urbanization
1. Physical aspects:- Industrialization has resulted in an increase in urban population, which creates further pressure on urban land. As a result, there is a dearth of space and overcrowding occurs. The municipal authorities are now finding a difficulty even provides the basic amenities for the migrated and the existing population of the city. Physical aspects are subdivided which are as follows:-
(a) Growth of cities:- The decrease in the costs of transport and communication and the promise of better living in the cities are attracting more and more people to the cities. The result is the haphazard development of cities in all directions.
(b) Homelessness:- Homelessness is another disturbing feature of urban life. The housing problem in the city is very acute. Many people who are unable to pay high rents remain shelterless or squatter on public property.
(c) Suburbanization:- The continuous expansion of cities has intensified growth in the outer edges of the cities, where there is undeveloped and unoccupied land. This circumferential and radial growth has led to the suburban areas.
2. Social aspects:- Increasing the number of inhabitants in a settlement beyond a certain limit affect the relationship between them and the character of the city. The greater the number of individuals participating in a process of interaction, the greater is the potential of differentiation between them whereby the personal trails, the occupations, the cultural life and the ideas and beliefs and values get widely separated. Social aspects are subdivided which are as follows:
(a) Family:- Family as an organisation is largely affected by the changes in the social structure. A change in the social structure affects the status of the family members. Many basic functions of family are now performed by secondary institutions and association. For example, formerly child-rearing and education were the primary functions of the family. But in today’s urban centres, the function of child-rearing is transferred to a secondary institution- the crèche or baby-care centre.
(b) Crime:- Urbanization, rapid economic liberalization, growing mass political upheaval and inappropriate and inadequate policy are the basis of crime in urban areas. Urban centres are known for high rate of crimes. Theft, dacoity, murder, cheating, pick-pocket, rape, etc. are common in urban centres
(c) Unemployment:- Urbanization can lead to unemployment. People are drawn to urban areas in the false hope of a better standard of living, better healthcare and job opportunities.
(d) Poverty:- Urban poverty has a serious impact on the economic growth in India. Many people who come to city in search of livelihood end up in poverty. The result is beggary and prostitution. The government is adopting a number of plans to overcome this major problem.
(e) Prostitution:- Urbanization involuntarily leads to trafficking of women and children. It is the social manifestations arising from the process of increasing transformation and is further exacerbated and compounded by the phenomena of poverty, unemployment, increasing urban/rural disparities, inveterate gender discrimination and migration.
(f) Gambling:- Gambling is an organized activity in many urban centres. People living in cities have a craze to make money. So, they are ready to adopt any means to make money- gambling gives them an opportunity to make instant or quick money. For many people, gambling becomes an addiction.
(g) Beggary:- Many people who migrated to the urban centers in search of better opportunities end up as beggars. The beggars are economically unproductive and almost remain as parasites in society. Most beggars stay in such unhealthy environment that they develop some of the other diseases
(h) Conflicts:- Conflict is the basic reason for any social tension in society. There may be three types of conflicts within the community- an individual conflicting with another individual; conflict within the family affecting the children and conflict between various groups. Group conflicts may arise due to various reasons such as social, economic, political, religious, lingual and regional. However, ethnic violence, terrorism, communal violence, and violence between different castes have become very common nowadays in almost all cities.
3. Psychological aspects:- The level of assimilation in urban areas is concerned with the psychological aspects of adjustment acquiring the values, meanings, sentiments or ideologies of that particular community. Consequently, stress caused due to competition and pressure of work, work and alcoholism have become the norm of the day in these urban centres. Psychological aspects are subdivided which are as follows:-
(a) Alcoholism:- Alcoholism is a chronic illness, which manifests itself as a disorder of behaviour. It is characterized by the repeated drinking of alcoholic beverages, to an extent that it exceeds social customs. In essence, alcoholism is not measured by the amount of alcohol consumed but rather by the way a person uses alcohol to deal with his life’s problems and their effects on his physical well- being.
(b) Stress:- Stress is the ‘wear and tear’ a body experiences as it adjusts continually to the changing environment. It has physical and emotional effects on people and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress helps compel a person to act; it also results in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it results in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger and depression, which in turn leads to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
(c) Cultural:- The culture content may be disseminated by human carries, who transmit their ideas, techniques, skills and modes of behaviour through interpersonal contacts or by mass transportation and communication. A villager, who has lived or worked in a city and returns to his/her village, is a carrier-capable of transmitting to his village kin or friends some of the cultures he/she has acquired through the urban residence.
# Factors OR Causes of Urbanization
1. Industrialization:- Due to the industrial revolution many people migrated from rural areas to urban areas for better employment opportunities. Industrialization makes it easier for people to get employment opportunities and work in modern sectors which also support economic development.
2. Commercialization:- Urban areas provide better business opportunities as compared to rural areas. The distribution of goods and services in the modern era has inspired modern marketing institutions.
3. Social benefits and services:- Urban areas provide many social benefits like better education, better sanitation, better standard of living and health care which lead to better social life in general. Rural areas lack social benefits and services, so people are migrated to urban areas.
4. Better employment opportunities:- There are ample employment opportunities in urban areas. People want better livelihoods, which is why they often move to urban areas. There are countless employment opportunities in urban areas in sectors such as education, transport, health, industry, sports and business enterprises.
5. Modernization:- It is an important factor in the process of modernization. Urban areas are becoming more tech-savvy with highly sophisticated medical facilities, communication, knowledge, infrastructure and other social amenities. Many people think that they can live better life in cities. Moreover, people adapt changes in their living modes like dressing, food habits, etc. show the number is increasing with every passing day in urban areas.
6. Rural-urban change:- Rural areas adapt the urban culture and eventually become urban areas and this is called rural urban transformation. This can see better employment, opportunities and transport in rural areas. This leads to increased productivity and economic growth.
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