How Does Urbanization Shape Society and the Environment?
Constant is the only change in the only change in this world and our societies are also trying to adapt and change to newer ways of living. The shift from the villages or rural areas to the cities or urban areas is called Urbanisation. This shift is mainly due to better opportunities and therefore progress. Urbanisation Speech and the different ways to present it is discussed in this article. It can be a Long Speech On Urbanisation or a Short Speech On Urbanisation.
Long Speech on Urbanisation
This form of speech on urbanisation delves into details and discusses many important aspects which are useful for students in grades 8-12.
Good Morning all, I Abc (mention your name) am here to speak on the topic of Urbanisation. Urban areas are basically well-built towns or cities that provide convenience for their residents. And a group of people living closely in this area in a concentrated space and increasing its population is referred to as urbanisation.
This transfer of people usually come from mainly the rural areas and villages nearby. When they shift permanently from one place to another to earn a livelihood there is a shift in population. The urban areas become more populated and the rural areas become less populated.
Even though their intention of the movement is to provide a better life, better home and opportunities for their children and families they often end up with not enough resources even for themselves. So the movement is usually good and more likely to be done when one is employed in an urban area.
Although it is important to know that not everyone wishes to leave their village life and their hometown. Some actually happily prefer to stay back and work and look after their families. And others are nervous about a shift or a change and they do not take this leap or even after they shift they might not be able to get accustomed to the urban lifestyle so they return. And some do not abide by the values in the cities and do not change into the urban way of living or be modern.
However, the urbanisation is only increasing because more and more people are coming to the cities, especially the metropolitan cities for better scope and earning. And anyway there is a shortage of space in the urban areas, this shift creates more problems and people become uncomfortable due to this. It is also quite a task to manage the expenses of cities because everything has astronomical prices.
There are many advantages of urbanisation like more people work in companies, there is an increase in employment. This leads to an increase in GDP and adds to the increasing economy that is favourable to the company. The children of the moving families also receive a better quality education so the literacy rates increase.
The living standards, however, may differ. The ones who are already leading a city life, have comfortable homes and facilities. And the ones who are newly starting life in an urban area must start from the lowest of the lows. And it is extremely hard to climb up the ladder in such bustling and competitive cities. But this doesn’t stop them from starting their lives and taking a chance for the sake of their families and providing them with better everything, food, home, school, education, transportation and a future to look forward to with many career prospects. And urbanisation will not see a decline any time soon.
Thank you.
Short Speech on Urbanisation
This type of speech on urbanisation is a brief overview of the topic and helpful information is provided for the students in grades 4-7.
Good morning everyone. I am here to talk about the topic that has an enormous impact on our country and is only rising for decades, Urbanisation. This is the change of one’s place from a rural area to a metropolitan city or urban areas.
Urban areas are usually preferred by the people from the outskirts of that city or the villages because of better transportation, job opportunities, health care, education, housing, security, good social life and a better place in the society.
People however must remember that there are many disadvantages to urban life as well like lack of privacy, pollution, overcrowding, higher cost of living, and when they are unable to manage expenses and lifestyle may have high chances of unemployment. And some people blissfully live their entire lives in villages with less pollution but toil hard to earn a livelihood and better education and healthcare facilities.
Therefore it is better to be very aware of the pros and cons and then make an informed decision. Urbanisation however is also a boon, if one is employed, that gives him/her a chance to create a better life for an entire family. On a national level, it means, the decline in unemployment, poverty, rise in economy and literacy. Urbanisation is one of the most crucial reasons for the development of the cities at this rapid rate and is not coming to a stop so soon.
Thank you.
10 Line Speech on Urbanization
This 10 line urbanisation speech is very helpful for students in grades 1-3 as they can easily understand in simple and short sentences.
The migration of villagers or people in rural areas to cities and urban areas is called urbanisation.
This step is taken by the people in the hope of a better life and a better future.
It is not easy to survive in an urban area because it is expensive.
Often people come for the purpose of employment and it gives them a better chance of making it big in life.
They dream of a good future for their family and children, a good education and comfortable homes.
Due to this shift, a rapid change is seen in the population decline in rural areas and quickly increasing in urban areas.
Due to this increase, space shortage is a huge problem in cities and therefore the cost of living also increases.
The ones who are rich can only afford them, others end up in the slums, the rich become richer and the poor become poorer.
The people who shift might lose themselves and cannot cope up with many differences and attitudes.
City life is cut-throat and everyone is only aiming to go high and achieve more even when it means stomping on anyone in their way.
Urbanisation
From the time Humans left the nomadic life of hunter gatherers they have established themselves in the most resourceful places. In the past the major resources were water and fertile land and so the establishments were always around the river basin. This provided them with a good harvest and water for them and their livestocks.
Over the time and ages the importance of other resources grew and so did the places of establishment for the Human. With time the society got created with people segregating work for people who produced and people who supported them by enabling them with the best possible environment.
After ages Humans got advanced with science and started to use machines. With a machine came industrialisation. Big industries were set up which can produce things with more efficient methods. This provided a job opportunity to people other than producing goods manually. These job opportunities created an economic system and the economy was far stronger than the ones in conventional settlements.
This economy attracted people from all around into the modern cities. This process of people leaving rural areas to live in cities and urban areas is called Urbanisation. By definition the process is predominantly the creation of cities and towns and grows into bigger ones as people move in and start working in central areas.
With the increase in the economy in cities, the basic facilities improved in cities. It attracted more people and it just created a loop where the cities and towns grew up in a cycle.
Before the 1950s the percentage of population in cities was only 15% which changed to mark a landmark in Human history in 2007 by touching 50% of the total population living in cities. Many studies have predicted that by 2050 64% of the population in developing countries and 86% of the population in developed countries will be living in cities and towns. With increase in infrastructure like better roads, railways, airports, hospitals, schools, communication infrastructure and job opportunities it is more likely that people will keep migrating from the rural areas to the urban areas.
In India there were only 11.4% of people residing in cities and towns in 1901 which changed to 28.53% in 2001. According to the world bank in 2017 the percentage of population living in urban areas increased to 34% with the world bank predicting the percentage will rise to 40.76% in 2030.
FAQs on Speech on Urbanization: Key Impacts and Solutions
1. What exactly is meant by the term 'urbanization'?
Urbanization is the process of population shift from rural (countryside) to urban (city) areas, the corresponding decrease in the number of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It primarily involves the growth in the number and size of cities, driven by the search for economic opportunities and better living standards.
2. What are the main positive impacts of urbanization on a country?
Urbanization often acts as a catalyst for development and progress. Key positive impacts include:
- Economic Growth: Cities are hubs of industrial and commercial activity, creating more jobs and higher incomes.
- Improved Services: There is better access to advanced healthcare, quality education, and public transportation.
- Innovation and Technology: The concentration of people and resources fosters research, innovation, and technological advancement.
- Social and Cultural Integration: Cities bring together people from diverse backgrounds, promoting tolerance and cultural exchange.
3. What are the most significant challenges or negative impacts of rapid urbanization?
While beneficial, rapid and unplanned urbanization can lead to serious problems, such as:
- Housing Crisis: High demand for housing leads to overcrowding and the development of slums and informal settlements.
- Environmental Degradation: Increased pollution (air, water, noise), the 'urban heat island' effect, and loss of green cover are common.
- Strain on Infrastructure: Public services like sanitation, water supply, electricity, and transport are often overburdened.
- Increased Cost of Living: The high cost of housing, food, and other necessities can lead to social and economic inequality.
4. For a speech, what are the most important solutions to address the problems of urbanization?
When discussing solutions in a speech, focus on actionable and sustainable strategies. Key points include promoting sustainable urban planning, which involves creating smart cities with efficient land use and green spaces. Other vital solutions are investing in robust public transportation to reduce congestion, implementing effective waste management and recycling programs, and developing affordable housing projects to ensure inclusive growth for all sections of society.
5. How does urbanization in India differ from that in developed Western countries?
The primary difference lies in the pace and planning. Urbanization in India is occurring at an extremely rapid pace, often outpacing the development of necessary infrastructure. This leads to challenges like large-scale informal economies and the need to retrofit old, densely populated cities. In contrast, urbanization in many Western countries was a more gradual process, allowing for more structured development of housing, sanitation, and transport systems over time. India's challenge is to manage massive rural-to-urban migration while simultaneously upgrading existing urban centres.
6. What is the concept of 'sustainable urbanization' and why is it important?
Sustainable urbanization is an approach to city development that aims to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. It focuses on creating cities that are environmentally friendly (with green buildings, clean energy), socially inclusive (with affordable housing and services for all), and economically productive. It is crucial because it offers a roadmap to manage urban growth in a way that minimises negative impacts and maximises long-term benefits for both people and the planet.
7. Can urbanization lead to increased inequality? Explain how.
Yes, urbanization can significantly worsen economic inequality if not managed properly. While cities generate wealth, this wealth is often not distributed evenly. The high cost of living can push low-income families to the outskirts, far from jobs and essential services. This creates a sharp divide between affluent, well-serviced neighbourhoods and impoverished, underserved areas like slums. This geographical and social segregation deepens the gap between the rich and the poor, making upward mobility difficult for many.
8. What are some key points to include in the introduction and conclusion of a speech on urbanization?
For your introduction, start with a powerful hook like a startling statistic (e.g., 'By 2050, more than two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities') or a thought-provoking question. For the conclusion, summarise your main points and end with a strong call to action. Urge the audience to think about their role in building sustainable communities or advocate for better urban policies. A powerful concluding thought could be a vision of future cities that are smart, green, and inclusive for everyone.
