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URBANISATION

WHAT IS URBANISATION?

Urbanisation or Urban Drift is the process in which the number of people living in cities increases compared with the number of people living in rural areas. A country is considered to be urbanised when over 50% of its population lives in urban places. It is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. It is also defined by the United Nations as movement of people from rural to urban areas with population growth equating to

WHAT IS URBAN?

Definition of urban varies widely from country to country. Some countries distinguish between rural and urban based on:

Size or density of localities Administrative considerations (only major cities are classed as urban) The percentage of persons not dependent on agriculture

Some nations define all of their population as living in urban areas (e.g. Singapore). Some nations define none of their population as urban (e.g. Polynesia (South Pacific Islands))

CAUSES OF URBANISATION

Reduce expense in commuting and transportation for jobs, employment etc. Improving opportunities for jobs, education, housing, and transportation. Greater variety of jobs in urban areas. To seek economic opportunities. Better basic services as well as other specialist services that aren't found in rural areas. Elderly are often forced to move to cities where there are doctors and hospitals

PROCESS

The process of urbanisation is different for MDCs and LDCs.

LDCs

The process of urbanization has occurred differently in much of the developing world. Historically many of these countries were former colonies They have some of the highest rates of population growth and the largest urban areas. They are characterized as being poor having significantly less technology then the developed world, and a very rapid transition from rural to urban societies.

Population is placing pressure on urban areas and without having the benefit of industrialization the lack of employment opportunities for the mass of urban migrants is undermining the ability of cities to incorporate people. The consequences of this lack of employment opportunities are growing urban areas a large percent of whose population is unemployed and living in poverty and forced to live in unsanitary squatter settlements.

MDCs

In MDCs the rural to urban migration was facilitated by large-scale industrialization and the need for labour

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED

Lack of housing, open areas of land and appearance of slums. Poverty is becoming increasingly urbanized as more poor people migrate from rural to urban areas. Diseases are common and frequent in squatter settlements and shanty towns Many cities do not provide adequate services (drinking water, sanitation facilities, electricity, food, heath care, housing, schools, jobs) to squatter settlements (lack money, and fear even

Many city governments try to destroy squatter settlements or send police to drive illegal settlers out (people then move back in or develop another shantytown somewhere else) Loss of land for agriculture. Environmental pollution outcome of urbanisation. is a direct

Urban heat- Sheer numbers of people in cities mean urban areas are major contributors to air pollution and enhanced greenhouse effect.

Sociologically, it has led to the breaking of joint family and the establishment of nucleus families. People becomes more self centered. Cities which are highly urbanised and re densely populated are more prone to aerial bombardments.

REMEDIAL MEASURES

Changing governmental infrastructure financing policies in favour of rural areas. Village economy should be made self sufficient. Cities can be revitalized by managing growth. Establish urban growth boundaries Cleaning up contaminated land Counter Urbanisation environmentally

Decentralisation of industrial sector. should be

CONCLUSION

It is within the power of man to create a healthy environment for the human race. What is needed is a readjustment of social and moral values.

Thank you!