Urbanization in Kerala - Problems and Solutions

Looking at what the rapid rate of urbanization in Kerala entails for the state

When we think of India's rapidly urbanizing landscape, metropolitan giants like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai often dominate the conversation. But the southern state of Kerala, often known more for its backwaters and green landscapes, has been urbanizing very quickly. The National Population Commission estimates that by 2035, 92.8% of Kerala’s population will be urban. This article examines the fast pace and nature of urbanization in Kerala and some of the steps the state government can take to better adapt to it. 

Rapid Urbanization in Kerala

Kerala is a relatively small state in terms of area. Moreover, Kerala ranks 15th among the states in terms of population. However, in terms of population density, Kerala is one of the densest states in India. Only Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are denser than Kerala. In recent years, Kerala has been witnessing another interesting phenomenon - rapid urbanization. Kerala’s landscape has been becoming more urban along with it’s people moving more into urban centers.

In a report published by the Economic Intelligence Unit in 2020, 3 cities from Kerala featured among the fastest-growing cities across the world. The rate of urbanization in Kerala is almost double the national average. However, when compared to other states in India, the rapid urbanization in Kerala often goes unnoticed. This is because the nature of urbanization in Kerala which is often referred to as ‘rurbanization’.

Rural-Urban Continuum in Kerala

10 out of 14 districts in Kerala are coastal. Geography has always played a significant role in Kerala’s development history. With most of the districts having historically significant ports, trade and development thrived in these regions during the past. In Kerala, as witnessed in many parts of the world, development indicators tend to decline as one goes farther away from the coasts. But the fact that geographically there are not many regions far away from coasts (and therefore from centers of trade and development) has established a pattern of urbanization in Kerala.

The pattern looks like this: You don’t have to travel too far to find the next big city in Kerala. Smaller towns and cities are dispersed across the length and breadth of the state. To an observer's eye, there isn’t a stark rural-urban contrast, as it exists in most states in India.
 
The lack of rural-urban contrast in Kerala is often referred to as the rural-urban continuum or ‘rurbanization’. The rural-urban continuum has resulted in a continuous stretch of human habitation with well-developed infrastructure and services across the state. The occupation patterns in Kerala’s villages are also a contributing factor. Unlike villages elsewhere in India, a large number of villagers in Kerala are involved in wage and salaried non-agricultural occupations. Villages in Kerala have houses that are scattered, instead of being in clusters. The development of transport infrastructure post-independence has also aided such scattering, with facilities and amenities being dispersed along with settlements. 

But recently, the rate at which Kerala is urbanizing has increased and this presents numerous challenges. 

Rapid Rate of Urbanization

The rapid rate of urbanization can be attributed to several interconnected factors.  
In the last few decades, Kerala has witnessed consistent growth in the tertiary sector. Tertiary sector’s contribution to the state’s GSDP has doubled from around 28% in the 1960s to around 62% today. This has attracted more people to the urban areas in search of jobs. Social and economic development along with better connectivity has also enabled people to make this transition from agriculture and manufacturing related jobs to service sector jobs.

Challenges of Rapid Urbanization

First, as more people move towards cities, it creates strains on available infrastructure in the cities. As there is no infrastructure to house more people, it results in people crowding into houses and slums. This is already being observed among the outside-state migrants who come to the major cities in Kerala. Cities are also more prone to disasters like floods. Additionally, the high population in cities increases the risk of casualties during disasters. This creates challenges for the state government in planning cities, providing infrastructure like housing and drainage, and disaster prevention mechanisms.

Second, job creation and urbanization may not always occur in tandem. As more people move into cities, salaries from urban jobs need not keep up with rising living costs. Low-paying urban jobs might further increase the out-migration of the youth in Kerala. These ought to have been people who would have preferred to stay back if opportunities were available closer to home. In this context, Kerala needs to ensure economic growth and job growth along with urbanization. 

Third, our urban governance systems have been sub-standard. The rationale behind the formation of urban local bodies was to make the government more responsive to citizens' local needs. But in reality, local governments lack autonomy in execution of projects and continue to have inefficient human resources and inadequate financial resources. In Kerala, urban local bodies lack their own funds and are dependent on the state and central governments for funds. Whatever funds they receive are majorly spent on the salaries of employees instead of development activities. In this context, they turn to the state or central governments for assistance whenever they face any issue, from transportation to garbage management.

Towards a better future

Kerala is rapidly urbanizing and in the next decade, the state is going to be almost fully urbanized. This will naturally bring with it plenty of development and social benefits like better employment opportunities, better health facilities, and better lifestyles. But the challenges are also going to be plenty.

Kerala state and its urban governance mechanisms need to be revamped to prepare for this inevitable future by investing in better local governance and city planning. We need independent mayors who receive steady funds and are supported by able staff to plan and implement transformational projects.

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