'Govts should back migration from rural to urban areas'

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Uwe Deichmann, one of the contributors of the report said, Governments must reduce focus on creating barriers that deter migration of people from rural to urban areas. “Moving from rural to urban areas is natural in the pursuit of prosperity and must be encouraged,” he said.

Describing the Mumbai example, Dr Deichmann stated that people there continue to move to urban areas, despite barriers such as taxation and lack of infrastructure. “Not to anticipate such growth can be treacherous,” he pointed out.

The report was written to inform debates on how to make globalisation work for all countries and concluded that economic growth, though bound to be unbalanced, can still be inclusive through promotion of economic integration in policy debates on urbanisation, territorial development and regional integration.

Economic prosperity

The report goes on to say that though economic prosperity will inevitably be concentrated in cities, spreading social benefits such as education throughout all regions is very much necessary.

According to Dr Deichmann, planners tend to consider areas like slums in isolation. “What is needed is a focus on growth along lines of density, distance and division in a regional context. Focus on these 3 D’s can diagnose problems to the economy and bring solutions,” he observed. Swati Ramanathan of Janaagraha, moderated the discussion.