PLANNING FOR RURAL AREAS

RURAL AREAS (VILLAGES)

Rural areas consist of villages which are small self contained units of
communities living in small houses, huts etc. They are places where the
natural surroundings over power the man made surroundings.
The rural areas are characterized by
a) Population of less than 5000 people.
b) Less density (50 to 100 p/hectare).
c) More than 75% of the population are engaged in agricultural occupation.
d) Rural areas are marked by lack of infrastructure and kutcha houses mostly.

URBAN AREAS (TOWNS AND CITIES)

Urban areas consist of towns and cities which are bigger in size and
density also. Here the human activities over power the natural
surroundings.
The urban areas are characterized by
a) Population of more than 5000 people.
b) Density more than 400 p/km2.
c) The population is engaged in secondary and tertiary sectors for
occupation(non-agricultural pursuits).
d) These areas are marked by better infrastructure.
RELATION BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS
Differences Between Rural And Urban Areas:
• Statistical difference: The urban areas have population of more than 5000
population and density more than 400 p/km2.
The rural areas have population less than 500 and density of 50 to 100 p/Hectare.
• Economic difference: More than 75% of workers are engaged in primary sector in
rural areas where as in urban areas they are engaged in secondary and tertiary
sectors.
The urban areas are marked by strong development of industries.
• Social difference : The rural areas have very strong community ties unlike the
urban areas. They have good neighbourhood spirit which is absent in the towns.
The caste and class considerations are strong in rural areas. The habitation is in
form of groups based on caste, trade, occupation and income.
The community in villages is homogenous where as it is more heterogeneous in
urban areas.
The rural areas lack in community facilities.
• Cultural difference : Rural areas have slow placed agrarian way of life as
compared to the fast pace of urban life.
• Physical difference :
The size of the village is very small, hardly few square kilometers where as the
towns spread far and wide.
The rural areas are marked by kutcha housing and lack of infrastructure .
 Types/ Patterns of Villages/settlements:

 Single Nucleated Settlement :

Here the villages develops in the form
of concentric rings with nucleus as the
village. It is mostly seen in plain areas.
 Linear Settlement: The development
takes place along the length. This
type of development is seen along the
coastal areas.
 Scattered Settlement: Here the village
has erratic growth, scattered here and
there. This type of development is
seen in forest areas or hilly areas.
Need for Rural Planning:
•According to 2011 census, there are more than 6 lakh villages in India.
•Of the 121 crore Indians, 83.30crore (68.84%) live in rural areas. While 37.70
crore stay in urban areas.
•45.36 crore people are migrants(37.8%)

•The rural migration to urban areas is due to availability of better jobs, higher
wages, proper facilities, amusement facilities, etc.

•Due to neglect in planning, the villages have grown haphazardly with lots of
problems like filth, dust, narrow lanes, etc. Hence the people are migrating from
rural to urban areas. The migration from rural to urban areas need to be curbed.

•The living conditions of people should be improved by providing better health,

educational and employment facilities.

•The rural and urban areas are inter dependent and there is a need to strengthen
the forward and backward linkages.
Issues / problems in Rural development:
•The population density in rural areas is very less. Many villages have
population of less than 1000.
•The distances involved are large and the provision of services and amenities
becomes uneconomical.
•Emphasis should be on decentralization.

•Adoption of appropriate technology.

•Priorities: Employment, water and fuel, health, education, sanitation, roads
and housing.
Principles of Rural Planning:
•Location – Availability of farm land and water. (Wind, rainfall, nature of ground)
•Communication/networks – Arterial road to bypass the village. Approach road (
10 to 15m) to link the arterial road outside the village limit. Within the village the
roads can be 7m wide. The village should be well connected with other villages,
highway etc.
•Village center – It should be the main hub of the village consisting of market,
panchayat hall, clinic, cultural center, etc.
•Neighborhood unit planning – This consists of small group of houses having
common utility services like water supply, school, playground, etc. the area can
be 30 acres with 40 to 50p/acre density.

Village Re-Development Project: Conservation, rehabilitation and redevelopment

 Socio economic survey : Carried out to know the living economic conditions
of the people, housing conditions, population, topography etc.
 Preparation of Development plan (master plan): Prepare the tentative map
keeping the old road layout. The development plan should include proposals
for improving the existing conditions. Scope to be given for development of
village industries.
Principles of Rural Housing:
The general layout of houses may be detached, semidetached according to
income group.
Design is based on functional needs the space requirement for living and
Occupation is dependent on their occupation.
It includes:
a) Living room, sanitary kitchen (equipped with fuel saving hearths like
smokeless chulas using rice husk) bath, grain storage, etc.
b) Verandah for relaxation
c) Adequate space for occupational purpose like storage space for raw
materials for potters, blacksmith, carpenter, and space in backyard for
bullock cart, cattle shed, keeping plough, etc
d) Use of locally available materials and traditional methods of construction to
reduce cost.
e) Provision of drinking water through tube wells and dug wells.
f) Provision of concrete drains. Waste to be diverted to cess pools.
g) Provision of sanitary privy.
h) Cattle sheds should be suitably located with manure pit nearby for
composting.
i) Provision of proper storage bins either under ground or above ground.