essay on urban development in india

4. Basic Features of Urbanization in India

5. basic problems of urbanization in india, 6. effects of urbanization.

7. Conclusions

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Heritage Conservation and Urban Development in India

1992, Practicing Anthropology

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Divay Gupta

India has an abundance of rich history, culture, traditions, and heritage, but a mere 0.7% of its total built heritage is under some sort of official protection (Khosla, Saini, et al., 2017). The central government’s Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), its state counterparts, and the local urban or rural administrative bodies (ULBs), are all custodians of about ten thousand monuments and archaeological sites combined. This leaves out a vast majority of built heritage, conservatively estimated at close to one million sites, from any means of protection or proper conservation. Historic cities or precincts have not fared well either; out of the eight thousand cities and towns in India, barely twenty are recognized as heritage cities and even fewer have any special planning considerations within their master plans. Out of this plethora of ‘unprotected heritage’, many sites are often in use and represent the ‘living heritage’ of the country. Yet they remain unprotected and vulnerable to insensitive modernization, urbanization, and unchecked development. On the other hand, the majority of India’s recognized architectural heritage and sites, even though legally protected, in effect remain unprotected in the absence of strong enforcement mechanisms (Chainani 2007). In such a scenario, the work of non-governmental and advocacy groups becomes very important. This chapter focuses on the Architectural Heritage Division (AHD) of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). It traces the evolution of built heritage conservation in INTACH over the last twenty years and how that has shaped conservation philosophy and practice in India more generally. Additionally, this chapter argues how INTACH, through its built heritage conservation programme has been trying to promote an India-centric approach to conservation, which draws from international approaches, but takes into consideration indigenous ways of conservation.

Sajeed Gadekar

International Res Jour Managt Socio Human

Cultural development is a historical process. Our ancestors learnt many things from their predecessors. With the passage of time they also added to it from their own experience and gave up to those which they did not consider useful. We in turn have learnt many things from our ancestors. As time goes we continue to add new thoughts, new ideas to those already in existent and sometimes we give up some which we don‟t consider useful any more. This is how culture is transmitted and carried forward from generation to next generation. The culture we inherit from our predecessors is called our cultural heritage. This heritage exists at various levels. Humanity as a whole has heritage a culture which may be called heritage. A nation also inherits a culture which may be termed as national cultural heritage.

Valedictory Address at Seminar on The Concept of Cultural Heritage Management and its Significance across Global Ethnic Groups

Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty

The concept of Cultural Heritage Management has to be redefined as part of a dynamic intergenerational continuum of living and evolving community heritage of the world, rather than as a frozen mummy, imprisoned in a glass case in a museum. An alliance of globalizing, corporatized states and international agencies is bent on mining community bio cultural heritage for industrial and commercial advantage in the name of global or national interest. India, which is one of the last surviving bastions of the community heritage of bio cultural diversity, should lead the way in changing the international discourse on heritage management. It should help unite its communities with other communities of the world in their ongoing initiatives to protect their tangible and intangible heritage in the interest of human survival and well being.

Indian Journal of Research in India (IJRA)

Dr. Amit Soni

Museums may apply intangible heritage to improve their visitors have a better grasp of the subject matter. Museums may bridge the gap between themselves and their non-visitors with the aid of physical and intangible cultural assets, respectively. Identifying, documenting, and representing intangible components of a museum's collections is essential for this purpose. Museums may encourage towns, organizations, and people to conserve their intangible cultural heritage by displaying it in their permanent collections. With local communities' assistance, museums may regularly organize exhibitions and educational events such as gallery tours, seminars, conferences, and workshops. In their ecological pockets within their definite geographical areas, various ethnic groups from different regions exist, each with their own micro-cultural identity and bio-cultural diversity, vital in determining and recognizing a particular ethnic group through their identity. This article also provides an overview of the significant museums in central India. Moreover, it seeks to focus on the role played by museums in raising cultural awareness about art and culture in India.

Unpublished

Aline de Carvalho

International Research Journal Commerce arts science , Prof. R. S. Biradar

Whatever valuable we have availed from our fore fathers, we should transfer the same to our next Generation. Such valuable offerings of our forefathers itself is called as Legacy (Heritage). Such cultural and natural heritage / legacy of our country are the main sources of our life and inspiration. For example the beautiful settlementsof nature, Taj Mahal, Pyramids of Egypt, Bruhadeshwara Temple, etc., are itself our special and extra ordinary settlements of International heritage. Such cultural heritage aspects, wherever they may be located throughout the world, they actually belongs to people of the whole world.

SCHOLEDGE eLibrary

Cultural Heritage Tourism uses the remains of the history in which the traveler is interested. Cultural Heritage Tourism has positive and negative impact on social-cultural, physical and economic aspects of Indian Society. Ajanta Caves in India which is a world heritage site and caves of Buddhist affiliation have been carved in Deccan basalt. From a social-cultural perspective tourism affects cultural resources through changes in forms and functions of traditional artworks, commodification of living culture, crowded condition and community members. Tourist activities exact physical impacts on precious heritage in form of vandalism, wear, tear and pollutions. On a more positive note, tourism from the increasing number of people, helps in creating jobs and taxes and stimulates entrepreneurialism in heritage destinations. This study recognizes the impacts of Cultural Heritage Tourism at Ajanta Caves and its surrounding regions in western India. For this research project, primary data is collected through observation and interviews of local community members, visitors, agents and officers of tourism department and secondary data is obtained from books, journals, survey reports, and publication of the government.

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Smart Cities and Sustainable Urban Development in India: A Case Study of West Bengal

• First Online: 23 July 2023

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Smart city paradigm is a relatively new one. It involves the application of the digital technology in governing and provisioning of urban services. Information and communication technology, Geographical Information System, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing are commonly used in the smart city solutions. This new paradigm shows immense potential in solving the traditional urban problems and ensuring sustainable urbanization. India has also adopted the smart city mission to achieve sustainable cities and enhances the environmental parameters of the cities. In this background, this chapter attempts to analyse the possible effectiveness of smart cities in promoting sustainable urbanization in India. In analysing this, West Bengal has been considered as a case study where four smart cities, that is, New Town Kolkata, Bidhannagar, Durgapur and Haldia, has been proposed. Considering the mission proposal for these four cities, it has been observed that smart city would be able to promote sustainable urbanization.

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Urbanisation: essay on urbanization in india (647 words).

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Essay on Urbanization In India!

Urbanisation is the movement of population from rural to urban ar­eas. Anderson holds that urbanisation involves not only movement of population to cities but also change in the migrants’ atti­tudes, beliefs, values, and behaviour patterns.

With urban growth and urbanisation process in India after 1951, sociolo­gists’ interest in urban themes has changed. They not only analyse change in urban organisation but also study stratification and mobility in urban communities and examine new emerging urban problems.

The change from 1951 till today (1999) indicates that the rate of urbanisation (move­ment of population from rural to urban areas and the resultant increasing proportion of population that resides in urban rather than rural areas) is low but the rate of urban growth (percentage increase in absolute size of the urban population) is high.

Whereas the percentage of urban popula­tion has increased by 1.5 times from 1951 to 1991 (from 17.3 to 25.73%), absolute size of the total population has increased by 2.6 times (from 356.9 million to about 940 million) during the same period. The urban growth has far-reaching implications. Not only rural urban development cannot take place in a balanced manner but also the problems of socio­economic adjustment would accentuate.

If the future of India is linked with rural development, it is equally linked with the growth of cities and metropolitan areas. Though increasing urbanisation has led to problems like pollution, overcrowding and slums, unemployment and poverty, crime and juvenile delinquency, communication and traffic control, violence and sexual harassment of women, tensions and strains, yet cities are centres of civilisation and culture. Before analysing rural-urban interactions, changes in urban social organisation, mobility, integration of ethnic communities, etc., it is neces­sary to understand the concepts of urban, urbanisation, and urbanism.

The term urban is used demographically and sociologically. In the former sense, it lays emphasis on the size of the population, density of population and nature of work of residents, while in the latter sense it fo­cuses on heterogeneity, impersonality, interdependence, and the quality of life. Thus, population of not less than 5,000, density of not less than 1,000 persons per square mile, and 75 per cent or more of working popu­lation engaged in non-agricultural activities (like manufacturing, trade and commerce, service, etc.) are said to be important characteristics of town/city or ‘urban’.

The 1991 census has defined urban place as any place with a minimum population of 5,000, 75 per cent of the male population being non-agricultural, population den­sity of at least 400 persons per square km (or 1,000 persons per square mile) and with a municipality/corporation/ cantonment/notified area.

These criteria have, however, been described as vague and conservative on several bases:

(1) Though the number of places with more than 5,000 populations is defined as ‘urban’ and there are 12,000 such places in India but the census recognizes only 3,245 places as urban.

(2) The density of population that qualifies a place as urban is unrealistically low.

(3) A place with more than 75 per cent of male working population engaged in non- agricultural activities is to be recognised as urban but according to 1981 and 1991 censuses, at least 25 per cent towns have agriculture as the domi­nant activity.

(4) Female workers are excluded from working population. On this basis, ‘urban community’ is defined as ‘a commu­nity characterised by a large heterogeneous population, predominance of nonagricultural occupations, complex division of labour, a high degree of specialisation in work, dependence on formal social controls, and a formal­ised system of local government’.

Urbanism is a way of life, characterised by transiency (short-time rela­tions), superficiality (impersonal and formal relations with limited number of people), anonymity (not knowing names and lacking intimacy), and in­dividualism (people giving more importance to one’s vested interests). Louis Wirth has given four characteristics of urban system or urbanism: heterogeneity of population, specialisation of function, ano­nymity and impersonality, and standardisation of behaviour.

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Revitalizing Communities: Contemporary Approaches to Urban Reconstruction

This essay about urban reconstruction explores its role in transforming cities and communities through strategic initiatives aimed at sustainable growth and improved quality of life. It highlights the importance of modern infrastructure, green spaces, mixed-use developments, and resilient communities. Emphasizing sustainability, public involvement, and social equity, the essay discusses how urban reconstruction addresses challenges like climate change and urbanization, promoting vibrant and equitable urban environments.

How it works

In the kingdom of municipal development and public motion, the concept of municipal reconstruction appeared how central strategy for transformation of cities and fence surrounding villages. After mere of physical renowacji, a municipal reconstruction includes the strategic initiatives directed in creation of viable increase and increase of quality of life for residents. Researchers and practitioners inculcate innovations continuously, to take up modern calls and capitalized on possibilities for development, what concludes and just.

In his maintenance, a municipal reconstruction contains multifaceted interferences, what is designed, to rejuvenate municipal circumferences, moving forward economic vitality and social prosperity.

Then includes modernisation of infrastructure, setting green intervals, and moving forward developments of the mixed use, to enrich a municipal vibration. General aim – to cultivate resilient societies apt at a bloom between development of social-economic and ecological landscapes.

The evolution of municipal strategies of reconstruction removes moving in the direction of steady development, public obligation, and all-round municipal management. It is foremost concentrated on recovery of post-disaster or repeated mediation of municipal blight, modern approaches do an accent on strong steady development, maintenance of cultural heritage, and encouraging an increase, what concludes. Today, successful municipal ecological considerations are full efforts of reconstruction, principles of social equity, and for economic resilient strategy, acknowledging their interdependent role in cultivation of the viable municipal futures.

Innovative municipal strategies of reconstruction are prominent their applicability and living review to the various municipal calls for example change of climate, rapid urbanization, and social-economic disparity. Cities globally all anymore and anymore dispose green initiatives of infrastructure on priorities, by the way municipal couples, green roofs, and viable transport systems, how integral their components of reconstruction plans. These initiatives not only soften influences on the surrounding world but and increase a municipal fitness for an apartment and ecological health of beam.

In addition, the public bringing in is critical in forming of effective municipal strategies of reconstruction. Attractive residents in the processes of decision-making guarantees, that local penetrating, advantages, and necessities are integral in the municipal planning and efforts of development. This general approach encourages sense of property and plenary powers among public members, encouraging more viable and resiliently municipal results through some time.

In conclusion, urban reconstruction represents a dynamic and evolving discipline within urban planning and development. By embracing principles of sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience, urban reconstruction endeavors aim not only to rebuild physical infrastructure but also to cultivate vibrant and equitable communities. Looking ahead, ongoing innovation, collaboration, and community engagement will be indispensable in addressing emerging urban challenges and forging cities that are more resilient, sustainable, and attuned to the diverse needs of their populations.

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I use ethnobotany to bring India’s medicinal plants into urban landscapes

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N. M. Ganesh Babu heads the Centre for Herbal Gardens at the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology in Bengaluru, India. Credit: Sayan Hazra for Nature

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“I come from a village in India where life was always lived alongside plants. My grandparents and my mother had a tremendous knowledge of plants; they told me proverbs about them, and taught me what natural remedies to use to treat diseases.

So much inherited wisdom of this kind has already vanished. The displacement of tribal communities away from forests has led to a loss of knowledge and cultural identity. So, when I came to the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology in Bengaluru, I knew what I wanted to document.

In my work as a field botanist, I conduct botanical surveys in forests all over India with the help of local communities. My survey team includes doctors in traditional medicine who know the cultural significance of the plants that we work with.

We collect seeds and, very occasionally, stem cuttings. We have a rule-of-thumb that if we see a thousand seeds, we can collect one, because our collecting should be sustainable. We have now developed and documented techniques to propagate almost 800 wild species from seed, and have created an ethnomedicinal garden spanning 20 acres that showcases the vast array of plant species used in various traditional health practices.

We want to show that medicinal plants are aesthetic and beautiful, and to promote their use in urban landscapes. In Bengaluru, for instance, we advocated the planting of native trees, which provide shade, improve air quality and support local biodiversity. This has developed into a native-plant landscaping business at the university, with clients across the professional community.

I feel very happy that our work will directly benefit the community and the environment of the area and, ultimately, contribute to global wellness.”

Nature 631 , 248 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02186-y

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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Improving housing and urban development policies in Mexico

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Access to adequate housing remains challenging in Mexico as many low- and middle- income households cannot afford purchasing a house because of high housing prices and limited access to credit. An underdeveloped housing rental market and insufficient supply of social and affordable housing force many households to resort to self-build or to reside in informal settlements. Administrative fragmentation and lack of coordination across levels of government favours a disordered urban development that provokes residential segregation, with vulnerable groups often living in peripheral areas with limited access to jobs, transport and urban services. Housing policies have recently become more targeted towards low-income households, which is commendable. Expanding the range of housing subsidies and fostering the development of a social rental housing sector would be valuable additional steps to improve access to housing for low-income households. Reforming the fiscal and legal framework to encourage private investment into rental housing and promoting public-private partnerships could boost the supply of affordable housing. Tasking states with ensuring that municipalities comply with federal and state urban and housing legislation and improving coordination across urban, housing and transport infrastructure could ease the implementation of national policies and reduce residential segregation.

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One person died after a truck fell down a bailey bridge over the Imphal river, after the bridge collapsed on Sunday morning.

The incident occurred around 6 am on Sunday, under the Wangoi police station limits in Imphal West.

When the truck, which was loaded with firewood, attempted to cross the newly constructed bailey bridge, the bridge collapsed, and the truck fell into the river with four people inside.

While three people managed to jump out of the truck, the driver, Md Borjao, 45, from Mayang Imphal Bengoon Yangbi, Imphal West, was trapped inside the truck and died, police said.

Minister of Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development Y Khemchand visited the site along with MLA Khuraijam Loken.

Khemchand said that the bridge may have collapsed due to "technical defects" and has ordered an enquiry into the incident.

Speaking to the media, minister Khemchand said that stringent action would be taken if anyone is found guilty based on the report. He also stated that the authorities would start reconstruction work on the bridge.

A combined rescue operation by Wangoi Police Station, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Manipur Fire Service team recovered the driver's body.

Notably, the same bridge had collapsed twice earlier, although no casualties were reported in those incidents. Published By: Ashutosh Acharya Published On: Jul 1, 2024 ALSO READ | Under-construction bridge in Jharkhand collapses due to rain, girder breaks

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The United States and India to Establish the U.S.-India Gandhi King Development Foundation

For Immediate Release

Press Release

On June 17, senior officials from the United States Government and the Government of India signed a Statement of Intent to formally establish the Gandhi-King Development Foundation (GKDF) by October 2024. This significant step, occurring during White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s visit to India, builds on the U.S. Congress’s passage of the Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act in December 2020, sponsored by Representative Gregory W. Meeks, which authorized USAID to create the Gandhi-King Development Foundation.

U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti , said, “The Gandhi-King Development Foundation represents a transformative partnership between the United States and India, rooted in the visionary ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. The foundation underscores our shared commitment to forging global progress by leveraging our collective strengths.”

USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Änjali Kaur,  who signed the Statement of Intent on behalf of USAID in New Delhi, said that, “USAID is proud to support the Gandhi-King Development Foundation, which will promote inclusive and sustainable development, symbolizing the friendship and common values of the United States and India.”

Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Gregory W. Meeks , said, “I was glad to witness this important progress towards establishing the Gandhi-King Development Foundation, which will further strengthen the bonds between the United States and India.  The Foundation will honor two visionary leaders and leverage the strength of our private sectors to address important issues such as public health, climate change and air pollution, and the empowerment of women.”

The Gandhi-King Development Foundation signifies a groundbreaking partnership between the United States and India to address global development challenges. It will operate locally in India, utilizing both public and private resources to advance India’s national and global development objectives. These include addressing climate change, reducing tuberculosis, improving water and sanitation, minimizing the health impacts of air pollution, enhancing education outcomes, and promoting economic empowerment for women.

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