Urbanisation and Growth of Slum Population in Jharkhand : A Spatial Analysis

The objective of this paper is to examine the relation between the pace of urbanisation and growth of slum population in Jharkhand. This paper also attempts to analyse the trends and patterns of growth of slum population at the district level in Jharkhand. In terms of urbanisation process of India, slums have become an integral part of urban scenario. In India, rapid growth of slums is the result of rural-urban migration of the rural poor to the cities/towns in search of employment in the last two decades. In the absence of any affordable housing, there has been growth of slums in the urban areas of the country. In India, out of a total population of 1.21 billion, 31.30% population resides in the urban areas, but 21.68% (61.8 million) of the total urban population live in the slums. Slums are considered as a major problem within the urban areas, particularly in relation to the issues of transportation, population growth, health and safety. The developing states or regions of India are more prone to this problem due to the lack of infrastructural development and heavy urban population pressure. Like other states of India, Jharkhand too is facing the problem of slums. After its separation from Bihar in 2000, the rate of urbanisation and the rate of growth of slums had gone high. The study reveals that in 2001, there were only 11 urban centers consisting of slum population but in 2011, it reached to 31. The slum population registers 23.68% growth while the urban population growth stands at 32%. This paper is primarily based on secondary data collected from different governmental agencies, particularly the Census data of population to analyse the spatial distribution of slum population in the districts of Jharkhand. This study explores the changing urbanisation scenario in Jharkhand and the growth of slums with respect to it.


Introduction
The true essence of urbanisation lies in the rapid growth of population in the urban areas and economic activities.An urban area can be identified on numerous criteria like administrative, occupational structure, population size and density.In India the most popular and effective criteria considered for urbanisation is that of size of the population and administrative structure.Bhagat (1992: 10) have identified mainly three attributes, which contributes to urbanisation, first natural increase, second net migration and third areal reclassification.According to Ramchandran (1989:82), "urbanisation is essentially an economic process".This means that identity of an area changes with the diversification of the activities being performed.Sawhney (2013: 48) argues that "in countries like India, where over population is a major hindrance to growth, slums crop up in the vicinity of urban settlements within days.In India most of the metros, industrial and service towns and cities have slums around or at any other location within the city circumference".The overconcentration of fiscal resources and unplanned urban growth are generating regional disparity leading to the growth of slums in the urban areas.For the first time in the 1991Census, slum population data have been recorded in the towns having population of 20,000 or above.According to the 2011 Census, a population of 377 million resides in the urban areas while it was only 20 million in 1901.The development of railways, the construction of roads and highways, establishment of new town for industries and refugees after partition following India's independence in 1947 had led to the increase in the urban population of India.Jharkhand, the new state carved out from Bihar in 2000, had witnessed tremendous urbanisation rate in the last decade of 2001-2011.In 1901, the total urban population of Jharkhand was only 117, 975 comprising of only 13 towns and 1.94% of the total urban population of India but today the picture has totally changed.In India, the Central Government, through the office of the Registrar General of India's national sample survey office, have their own definition in the same way as each State has its own definition of slum.The National Sample Survey Organisation defines slum as: "a slum is a compact settlement of at least 20 household with a collection of poorly built tenements, mostly of temporary nature, crowded together usually with inadequate sanitary and drinking water facilities in un hygienic condition."Thoughthese slums are more prevalent in the metropolitan cities of India, these are growing slowly in other cities and small towns of India too.

Database and Methodology
The present study is mainly based on the secondary data gathered from the Census of India from 2001 and 2011.Reports on slum development by the Government Agencies have been studied to understand the reality.The collected and compiled data have been analysed using MS-Excel and map have been prepared by the software Arc Gis 9.3 for a comparative analysis of the variables.

Objectives
 To study the trend and pattern of urbanisation in Jharkhand and its causes. To examine the relation between urban population growth and slum population.

Urbanisation in Jharkhand
Urbanisation in Jharkhand started way back in the 17thCentury.Many chiefs who had their own capital of the state ruled the whole region and these centres were distinct from the rural landscape.Jharkhand ranks 15th in terms of its total area in the country, embracing a population of 33.5 million (Census of India 2011) constitutes 2.72% of the total population of India.The total population of the state had increased from 6 million in 1901 to 32 million in 2011.Jharkhand shares 2% of the total urban population of India.However about 24% of the total population of Jharkhand resides in the urban areas.Indeed the population of Jharkhand increased five-fold in 100 years (Table 1).The average urban population growth rate of Jharkhand is higher than that of India's growth rate except for during 1951-61 and 1971-81.The unstable political conditions throughout the country just after independence had led to the decline of urban population growth from 1951-61.In 1971 Census, new concept of urban centre was adopted because of which many urban centres degraded to rural status that resulted in the decline in urban population growth rate from1971-81.Annual urban population growth was 2.9% between 1991 and 2001 in Jharkhand compared to 3.1 % at an all-India level.The pace of urbanisation in Jharkhand had always been more than that of India.There had been continuous increase the in rate of urban population growth.However, after 1981, the speed of urbanisation became slow due to slow pace of industrialisation and lesser migration of population to the towns.In 1971, the all India total population growth rate was 25% but in Jharkhand, the urban population grew at 70%.The reasons for high urban growth in Jharkhand during 1951-71 are development of basic industries in the Chotanagpur belt.In 2004-05, 11% of the working population in Jharkhand were engaged in mining and quarrying, utility services and in construction sites, which increased to 23% in 2009-10.In the urban centres of Jharkhand, major working populations are classified in the main worker other in category. 2For instance 79% each in Ranchi and Dhanbad, 76% in Bokaro and 91% in Jamshedpur belongs to the main worker other category.This signals that majority of the working population are engaged in the formal sectors like mining, quarrying, vending, labour, etc. (Table 2).The total population of the state grew by 22% during 2001-11, whereas the growth of urban population had been much higher at 33% during this period (Table1).In 2001, the share of urban population to the total population of Jharkhand was 22.24%, which increased to 24.05% in 2011 (Table1).Because of the industrial and mining activities, Jharkhand is more urbanised than other states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal.The level of urbanisation of Jharkhand is less than the national average and almost half of the urban population of the states like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.Most of the districts in Jharkhand have a very low level of urbanisation.Only four of the districts of this state are highly or moderately urbanised-Purbi Singhbhum (55%), Dhanbad (52%), Bokaro (45%) and Ranchi (35%) are the districts with more than one-fourth of its population inhabiting in the urban areas.

Source: Census of India, 2011 District Level Urbanisation in Jharkhand
Table 2 shows the urban population growth and trends of urbanisation in Jharkhand in the 21st century.As mentioned earlier, the pace of urbanisation in Jharkhand got more acceleration after its separation from Bihar in 2000.Almost all the districts in Jharkhand are showing an increasing trend of urban population.Some districts have very high urban growth rate in comparison to the others due to industrialisation and infrastructural investment, but this was largely in and around large cities and upcoming industrial centres.The high urban population growth is due to rural-tourban migration and urban-to-urban migration in the form of migration from small urban areas to large cities and towns.The highest population growth was registered in Palamau district with 12% increase while the lowest was in Hazaribagh witnessing -4.7% growth because of separation of Ramgarh as a new district from it.The new trend of urbanisation is in favour of the districts, which were not much urbanised previously like Deoghar (6.16%), Garwah (6.33%), Giridih (7%), Godda (7.4%), Gumla (6.36), Koderma (6.28%), Latehar (9.71%), Pakur (8.73%), Palamau (12.87%),Sahibganj (6.27%), Saraikela Kharsawan (6.18%).These districts gained growth in urban population due to the development of industries, infrastructure and employment opportunities along with the availability of health, education, banking and other basic urban services, which were previously concentrated only in the industrialised districts of Jharkhand-Ranchi, Purbi Singhbhum, Paschim Singhbhum and Bokaro.Many new industrial units and mines had been established by both the government and private sector in the districts of Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, Hazaribagh where very less industrial development had taken place in the last decades.In Dumka district, the Jindal Steel established its power generation unit.In Hazaribagh, Karanpura Super Thermal Power Project and Tilaiya Ultra Mega Power Project were established.In Deoghar, the Indian Oil Company built its new fuel oil depot, which acts as fuel oil distributing centre for the whole of Jharkhand.In Godda, one of the largest open cast mines of whole Asia had been constructed for mining coal.These big projects had brought scope for the development of service sector also and enhanced the urban facilities attracting more population from rural areas.).With the diversification of economic activities and rural population, determination to live a good life attracted the population to these centres.The development of transport and road networks in the last decade also provided the impetus in increasing the urban population.The upgradation of many such centres into 'notified areas'3 along with the recognition as urban centres provided the boost for urbanisation.The western and southern Jharkhand which includes Bokaro, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Purbi Singhbhum, Saraikela Kharsawan, Ramgarh are more urbanised than the other parts of Jharkhand (Fig. 2).There are huge deposits of coal and iron ore in these areas, which provides facility for the establishment of industries, and large work force are required to mine out these minerals.The northern districts of Jharkhand, which includes Chatra, Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, Pakur, Koderma, Garwah, Giridih, are lowly urbanised due to the lack of development of industries and less availability of any minerals, while the eastern districts like Palamau, Lohardaga, Gumla, Latehar, Simdega, Khunti are moderately urbanised districts (Fig. 2).
There is not much varation in the level of urbanisation in Jharkhand in both Census 2001 and 2011 (Fig. 2).All the districts of Jharkhand have slow or moderate urban growth except for Palamau (12.87%) and Saraikela Kharsawan (6.18%).In 2001, the Hazaribagh district had 23% urban population, which decreased to 15% in 2011 because of separation of Ramgarh as separate district in 2007.In 2001, the Ranchi district had 35% urban population, which increased to 43% in 2011, although Khunti district was separated from Ranchi district in 2007, but still there is high level of urbanisation, which is due to large migration of population.It seems that the level of urbanisation in whole Jharkhand is constant in both decades.Though there is a slight incresase in the level of urbanisation in almost all districts, these increases are so meagre that it is not possible to map.

Growth of Slum Population at District Level
The 21st century Jharkhand not only sustained population growth but also more of urbanisation.The chief cause of migration to urban areas in Jharkhand is the economic strength of large urban centres in its contribution to employment opportunities and better means of livelihood.In Jharkhand, similar to other states of India, migration too played an important role in accelerating urban growth.The urban centres in Jharkhand like Ranchi, Bokaro, and Jamshedpur have become the attracting points for the employment seekers.However, the planned urbanisation has been marred to an extent by the excessive demand for basic amenities resulting in deterioration of the physical environment.Slums have become an integral part of the phenomenon of urbanisation, which are the result of failure of overall socio-economic policies and programmes of the states and the country.The quality of life has thus suffered due to continuous influx of migrants and increasing gap between demand and supply of essential services and other infrastructures in the urban areas.The total slum population in Jharkhand grew at the rate of 23%, which is low in respect of the urban population growth of 32% in 2011.In Jharkhand, there is a decrease in the average household size in the slum areas because of increase in the household and the decrease of slum population.The average household size of the slums in Jharkhand in 2001 was 5.5, while it declined to 5.1 in 2011.In the 2001 Census; only 11 urban centres of 22 districts had registered slum population, while in 2011 there are 31 urban centres of 24 districts where slums are found.The population living in the slum areas of Jharkhand in 2001 was 5% of the urban population of Jharkhand; in 2011, it had decreased to 4.7% of the total urban population of Jharkhand.Despite the increase in the number of slums-reporting urban centres from 2001 to 2011, there is decrease in the slum population, which is a good sign of development of urban basic services.
In Jharkhand, all the districts have registered either positive or negative slum population growth.The districts where negative growth of slum population was registered are Dhanbad, Koderma, Purbi Sighbhum, and Saraikela Kharsawan (Table 6).The increase in the income of the slum dwellers had permitted them to have affordable housing and basic urban amenities.The growth of slum population in Jharkhand ranges from 548% increase in Paschim Singhbhum to -62% in Dhanbad.The decrease in the number of slum population in Jharkhand is due to the change in the concept and definition of slum from 2001 to 2011 Census.In Jharkhand, many districts have high slum population growth rate in comparison to the rate of urbanisation.The districts where the slum population growth rate is more than the rate of urbanisation are Chatra, Deoghar, Dumka, Giridih, Jamtara, Lohardaga, Paschim Singhbhum, Ranchi, Sahibganj and Simdega (Table5).There are three districts-Deghar, Dumka, and Sahibganj in Jharkhand where slum population was not registered in the 2001 Census but the Census 2011 registered slum population of 9%, 6.6%, 6.35% and 10.83% respectively in these districts (Fig. 4).Map (Fig. 3) shows that the north eastern and southern districts of Jhakhand have high slum population growth rate.This high slum population growth is induced by growing urban centres, such as Sahibganj, Deoghar, Dumka, Giridih, Jamtara, Chaibasa, in these districts.The migration of the nearby rural people in search of employment, mainly in manufacturing and mining sectors, is the major cause of slum growth in these urban centres.These rural migrants are compelled to reside in slum because they cannot afford formal housing.The north-western, central and south eastern districts have registered less slum population growth rate than the rate of urbanisation (Fig. 3).These districts include Bokaro, Dhanbad, Garhwa, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Latehar, Pakur, Palamau, Purbi Singhbhum, Saraikela and Kharsawan.The main causes of less slum population growth rates are improvement in housing, infrastructure and income of slum dwellers to have better access to basic services.The districts having old urban centres of the state such as Ranchi, Purbi Singhbhum, Dhanbad, Koderma, and Bokaro have witnessed low rates of urbanisation and low rates of slum population growth due to less attraction of rural migrants to these urban centres.The main reasons for less attraction are the generation of employment opportunities in urban centres of other districts, infrastructural development and availability of services like health, education, banking, etc. (Table 5).There are still some districts in Jharkhand, like Ramgarh, Khunti and Godda where slum population is not reported in Census 2011.The trend of urbanisation in Jharkhand shifted from Class I cities to Class II and III towns, which is evident from the high level of urbanisation and high growth rate of urban population in the districts of the Dumka (5.25%), Godda (7.4%), Pakur (8.73%), Palamau (12.87%),Sahibganj (6.27%), Kodrma (6.28%), Giridih (7%) which is higher in comparison to Ranchi (2.85%), Paschim Singhbhum (1.41%) and Purbi Singhbhum(1.68%).The main causes of urbanisation of these districts are development of their small towns as commercial and service centres, which provides services to small town population, which were formerly dependent on big cities/towns for services.
In the Census 2001, only eight districts in Jharkhand had registered slum population.The highest slum population was in Saraikela Kharsawan (47%) and the lowest was in Paschim Singhbhum (1.5%).While in 2011 Census, all the districts had recorded slum population except for in the districts of Garhwa, Godda, Pakur and Ramgarh.In 2011 Census, the highest slum population was recorded in Lohardaga (18%) and the lowest in Dhanbadand Bokaro (1%).There is spatial variation in slum population in different parts of Jharkhand.The districts in Santhal Pargana region had recorded moderate and high slum population to total urban population ranging from 5% to 15% (Fig. 4).The southern districts of Jharkhand, which includes, Simdega, Paschim Singhbhum, Khunti, Saraikela Kharsawan, Purbi Singhbhum had recorded moderate slum population to the total urban population varying from 5% to 10%.The central districts of Jharkhand, which include Latehar, Hazaribagh, Bokaro, and Dhanbad, had recorded low slum population to total urban population in comparison to the districts of other parts of Jharkhand.The northern districts including Chatra, Giridih, Lohardaga, and Jamtara had registered moderate and high slum population to total urban population ranging from 10% to 20% (Fig. 4).The less developed districts of Santhal Pargana and Southern Jharkhand had recorded moderate growth of slum population.From the above study, conclusion can be drawn that there is direct relationship between the rate of urbanisation and the growth of slum population.In the state, the high slum population growth rate is found in the districts where high rate of urbanisation persists like in Deoghar, Chatra, Giridih, and Lohardaga.Total number of slum population had increased in 2011, but its share in total urban population had decreased because urban population growth rate is higher than the slum population growth rate in the state.In the state, with the increase in the number of urban centres, there is increase in slum reporting urban centres.In 2001 Census, there were 152 urban centres in Jharkhand out of which only 11 centres had recorded slum population but in 2011 Census, there are 228 urban centres, out of which 31 urban centres have slum population.This study reveals that the increase in the level of urbanisation or growth in the number of urban centres increases slum population.In the state, the emerging trend of slum population growth highlights that slum population is increasing in the districts having high urbanisation growth rate and new emerging service centres like Deoghar, Lohardaga, Jamtara, Chatra and Giridih.The study highlights that there is decrease in average household size in slums.In few districts of Jharkhand, like in Deoghar, Giridih, Jamtara, there are still high slum population growth rate because these districts have the developing urban centres with lots of infrastructural investments and developments.In the case of Jharkhand, it can be concluded that the districts having high rate of urbanisation and developing urban centres (Deoghar, Jamtara, Khunti, Hazaribagh) had recorded high slum population growth rate in comparison to the previously urbanised districts and developed urban centres, where there is high population pressure.