THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (SMT. DEEPA DASMUNSHI)
(a) & (b): The population of cities has been growing on account of several factors including
migration from rural to urban areas. The information on migration has not been published by
Census of India for Census 2011. The percentage of people living in urban areas in India has
increased from 27.8% in 2001 to 31.16% in 2011. During the corresponding period, the change
in level of urbanization, as per the United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects, The 2011
Revision, in some developing countries is given below:-
S.No. Name of Country Percentage Urban Population 2001 2011
1. India 27.8 31.16
2 Pakistan 33.1 36.2
3 Srilanka 15.7 15.1
4 Bangladesh 23.6 28.4
5 Ethiopia 14.7 17.0
6 Kenya 19.9 24.0
7 Madagascar 27.1 32.0
8 Rwanda 13.8 19.0
9 Uganda 12.1 15.0
10 Zimbabwe 33.8 39.0
11 Cambodia 18.6 20.0
12 Myanmar 27.2 32.0
13 Vietnam 24.4 31.0
(c): The Government of India supports development of towns through the Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) which was launched in 2005-06 and seeks to improve urban
infrastructure, housing, transport and urban basic services. The JNNURM comprises sub-Mission-I
on Urban Infrastructure and Governance and sub-Mission-II on Basic Service for Urban Poor and
covers 65 identified towns apart from Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and
Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) and Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) which
covers other towns.
(d) & (e): It is not the policy of Government to either check or facilitate migration to the
cities as the process of migration is driven by demographic and economic factors and distortions
in the process may have undesirable consequences on economic growth and development.
