INTRODUCTION
Urbanisation is a process, rather than a
product by which a people or a group of people, instead of living in
predominantly dispersed agricultural village, start living in towns and cities
dominated by industrial and service functions. It involves multiplication of
urban places or increase in the size of existing cities. Sociologists look at it,
as a process as well as instrument of modernisation and social change – a break
from traditional past. Geographers look at urbanisation as a process by which
human beings and their activities congregate spatially to give rise to towns
and cities of various sizes. Economists lay emphasis on urbanisation as an
engine of economic growth.
Urbanisation is the process under which population migrates
from rural areas to towns and cities which are the major commercial and
industrial centres in the economy. Thus urbanisation can be defined as a
process by which man transforms his agriculture based rural habitat in to an
essentially non agricultural urban functions and places. In other words, the
level of urbanisation is considered as the ratio of urban to rural population
at a given point of time.
An urban place emerges by transformation of villages into
towns or establishment of towns through planning and policy measures. It is
difficult to set a standard population size norm for a place to be designated
as urban. In some countries like Peru USA India
GROWTH OF URBANISATION IN MIZORAM: Lushai Hills, the
erstwhile district of Assam after being bestowed union territory status as
Mizoram in 1972 and statehood in 1987, has been experiencing rapid
socio-economic growth. The developmental programmes initiated by the state
Government and the policies of the Central Government to provide full financial
support has been act as a catalyst in helping a pre dominantly tribal populace
to realize a better living standard. Consequently behavioural and structural
changes took place which has been manifested in the fast changing consumption
pattern, social values and decreasing importance of traditional institutions of
the state.
By and large Mizoram has
experienced an unprecedented growth of urban population in last three decades.
With a meagre 11% at two urban centres of Aizawl and Lunglei in 1971 the state
claimed to have the highest urban population in the country (over 49%) with 23
towns according to 2001 census.
TABLE: 1
GROWTH OF URBAN POPULATION IN
MIZORAM
(1951-2001)
|
Sl No
|
Year
|
No of Towns
|
Total Population
|
Urban Population
|
% of Urban Population
|
|
1
|
1951
|
1
|
196,202
|
6,956
|
3.54
|
|
2
|
1961
|
1
|
266,063
|
14,257
|
5.34
|
|
3
|
1971
|
2
|
332,390
|
37,759
|
11.36
|
|
4
|
1981
|
6
|
493,757
|
121,814
|
24.67
|
|
5
|
1991
|
22
|
689,756
|
317,946
|
46.20
|
|
6
|
2001
|
23
|
888,573
|
441,006
|
49.63
|
Source: Directorate of Census Operations. Aizawl, Mizoram.
Urbanisation in Mizoram as a whole is growing
at a much faster rate than the growth of infra-structure and service sector to cope
with it. Most of the growth is taking place in the state capital Aizawl and
other major towns like Lunglei, Champhai, Kolasib, Mamit, Saiha, Serchhip etc.
The growth of urban population in Mizoram has
increased considerably since 1951. The percentage of urban population has
increased from mere 3.54 percent in 1951 to 49.63 percent in 2001 (Table: 1). The
number of towns shows remarkable growth with only one (Aizawl) in 1951, two (Aizawl
& Lunglei) in 1971, six in 1981 and twenty three in 2001. Mizoram stands
first in terms of most urbanised state in the country, because as many as 16
rural constituents of 1981 census
acquired the status of towns in
1991 without any corresponding improvements in infrastructure facilities and
other urban amenities of life. As a result the number of towns increased to 22
in 1991 as against 6 in 1981.
The district wise
distribution of urban population is depicted in table: 2, which shows the
un-even distribution of urban population among different districts in the
State. Aizawl town alone accommodates 56.26 percent of the total state urban
population followed by Lunglei with 31.11 percent, totalling about 87 percent of
total urban population pointing towards the high degree of concentration of
urbanites in these two towns alone due to availability of comparative better
infrastructure facilities in these areas.
The percentage of urban
population in different districts shows an unequal distribution. Aizawl, the
state capital has the highest concentration of urban population (76.19%) where
Mamit shows the lowest urban population (16.96 %).
TABLE: 2
DISTRICT WISE DISTRIBUTION
OF URBAN POPULATION IN MIZORAM 2001
|
Sl no
|
Districts
|
Total
Population
|
Rural
|
Urban
|
% of
Urban
|
|
1
|
Aizawl
|
325,676
|
77,531
|
248,145
|
76.19
|
|
2
|
Champhai
|
108,392
|
66,343
|
42,049
|
38.79
|
|
3
|
Kolasib
|
65,960
|
29,461
|
36,499
|
55.33
|
|
4
|
Lunglei
|
137,223
|
79,267
|
57,956
|
42.23
|
|
5
|
Lawngtlai
|
73,620
|
57947
|
15673
|
21.28
|
|
6
|
Mamit
|
62,785
|
52,132
|
10.653
|
16.96
|
|
7
|
Serchhip
|
53,861
|
27,983
|
25,878
|
48.04
|
|
8
|
Saiha
|
61056
|
41,230
|
19,826
|
32.47
|
|
9
|
Mizoram
|
888,573
|
447,567
|
441,006
|
49.63
|
Source: Statistical Handbook of Mizoram,
2006.Directorate of Economics and Statistics. Mizoram. Aizawl.
There are a number of
factors responsible for the high growth of urban population in the state.
Migration of people from rural areas to urban areas in search of livelihood is
one of the major reasons. Natural growth of population; i.e. birth rate is
higher than death rate in urban areas, expansion of town areas especially
addition of new towns to the already existing ones in 1981. Differential
provision of physical infrastructure near roads and high differential
development investment in Aizawl district are some of the factors responsible
for the growth of urban population.
PROSPECTS
& PROBLEMS OF URBANISATION
Process of urbanisation
is generally associated with concentration of non-agricultural occupation at
advantageous locations pulling cultivators towards it which awaits gainful
employment due to reduction in the need of farm labour consequent upon improved
agricultural technology. Urban centres thus act as the growth poles due to
their location advantages, and play significant role in the evolution, growth
and diffusion of innovations and growth of system there of. They are assigned a
multifunctional character. Urban centres are always keen on developing their
economy to compete with each other to gain spatial dominance by providing its
people a strong economic base to enjoy a higher standard of living. Towns, thus
attempt to expand their functions not only in their complementary regions but
also attempt to encroach in the area of influence of their townships. It may be
achieved either by providing specialized services or by making products more
competitive by producing goods in large quantities at lower prices through
improved transport facilities within the city and beyond. This, thus
necessitates development and growth of an economy in and around a core not only
to make settlement a feasible urban unit but also to expand its territorial
sphere of influence for its own growth and development.
The rapid urbanisation
has its healthy aspects as also unhealthy ones. The urbanisation associated
with development is something normal as has been the experience of present
developed countries. In the process of development many industrial cities came
in to existence. Alongside manufacturers, service sector also developed.
Another positive aspect of urbanisation is related to the new and expanded
employment opportunities that are created in the urban areas. There are also
gains arising out of the external economies that make it possible to reap the
economies of scale in the provision of various services.
While there are a number of
benefits associated with urbanisation, there are some serious problems that it
gives rise to. The state capital Aizawl along with other major towns in Mizoram
is now having civic problems as in the case of any other growing towns in India
Another major problem
facing the whole Mizoram in the area of human settlement is the lack of water. Safe
and sufficient water supply is basic need of human settlement and form an
essential part of the infrastructure which enables it to function properly.
Urban water supply is dealt by state P.H.E. Department. Consequent upon high
density of population in Aizawl and other major town’s very large proportion of
the urban dwellers are faced with a serious problem of water supply. The
location of major cities like Aizawl, Lunglei, Kolasib etc on hill tops has further
aggravated the problem. The availability of pure and safe water on ridge tops
and adjacent slopes is very limited in this terrain. Hence it imposes severe
strain on households of fetching water from sources in the valley bottom or
from springs along the hill slopes. The majority of households in both urban
and rural areas have adopted the rain water harvesting technology. All major towns in Mizoram face deficiency in
water supply.
In the field of urban
housing in Mizoram, especially the state capital Aizawl city manifests the
existence of large housing deficiency. Only 50% of the inhabitants in Aizawl
city are having their own houses, remaining 50% stay on rented houses. The
scenario is not better in other towns also. At Lunglei, the second largest town
in Mizoram faces 37% deficiency in housing. This leads to increase in house
rent which in turn motivates rich section of people to invest in building
construction where the yield is more and the risk is least. It adversely
affects the economy.
Solid waste and garbage
disposal is another major problem in urban areas. Presently, collection and
disposal of garbage is dealt by the L.A.D. In fact the present quantum of solid
waste generated in Aizawl city alone is more than 125 tons per day where as
only 35 tons are disposed off directly to the dumping sites or on the roadsides
in un hygienic manner causing much nuisance and creating un healthy environment
in the city. The unplanned growth of towns with inadequate accessible roads has
created solid waste collection and disposal extremely difficult.
Unplanned building
construction in hill slopes cause destruction especially during rainy season.
As most of the towns are characterised by high concentration of population,
there is a high demand for more houses for accommodation. This urges people to
construct buildings along the slide prone dangerous slopes. A survey conducted
by The Town and Country Planning in 1993 shows that out of 21,639 households
only 352 (11.70%) were designed by the technical experts like Architects,
Engineers and Planners. In the absence of proper guides and regulation, the methods
of house construction on steep slopes are not economical and too risky.
CONCLUSIONS :
The growth of
urbanisation in Mizoram is totally uncontrolled. There are many departments
involved in maintaining and development of land and provision of urban service
but lacks proper coordination. The future growth of urbanisation needs proper
direction and guidance in order to promote economic growth, enhance
availability of urban services to the sub urban areas to improve the quality of
life .The development programmes of the state should be implemented properly
and carefully to generate more employment opportunities and income to the
people. People’s participation should be appreciated. Proper vigilance is to be
kept to avoid misappropriation of fund in implementing various programmes.
Immediate steps needs to be taken to enforce development control and building regulations.
Basic necessities like water, power, roads, safe drinking taps and public
toilets at important locations in the city etc are to be provided to make the
cities clean, beautiful and pollution free.
Dr. B. I. LASKAR
Reader,
Deptt.of Economics
Govt. Aizawl West College
Aizawl: Mizoram
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