3. Process of Urbanization

Urbanization as a structural process of change is generally related to industrialization but it is not always the result of industrialization. Urbanization results due to the concentration of large- scale and small scale industrial ,commercial, financial and administrative set up in the cities; technological development in transport and communication, cultural and recreational activities. The excess of urbanization over industrialization that makes it possible to provide employment for all persons coming to urban areas is, in fact, what sometimes leads to over urbanization. In India, a peculiar phenomenon is seen: industrial growth without a significant shift of population from agriculture to industry and growth of urban population without a significant rise in the ratio of the urban to the total population. While in terms of ratio, there may not be a great shift from rural to urban activities, but there is still a large migration of population from rural areas to urban areas. This makes urban areas choked; while at the same time there is lack of infrastructural facilities to cope with this rising population.

In context of India, the process of urbanization is seen as a socio-cultural process, economic process and a geographical process.

♤ As a socio-cultural phenomenon, it is a melting pot of people with diverse ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds.

♤ As an economic process, the city is a focal point of productive activities. It exists and grows on the strength of the economic activities existing within itself.

♤ Under the geographical process, it deals with migration or change of location of residence of people and involves the movement of people from one place to another.

The process of urbanization has thus been associated with important economic and social transformations, which have brought greater geographic mobility, lower fertility, longer life expectancy and population ageing.