Interdependencies of Internal Migration, Urbanization, Poverty, and Inequality: The Case of Urban India

Abstract

In India, the total of metropolitan cities around 1 million people and above has increased from 35 in 2001 to 53 in 2011. Around 43% of urban population resides in metropolitan cities. In 2030, India is predicted to increase its urban population a total of 163 million, relative to an increase in the rural population by 30.9 million (UN DESA 2014). Unplanned growth in urban population tends to put pressure on regional/urban disparities and rapidly increasing slum dwelling population. In 2011–2012, headcount ratio (HCR) based on the US$ 1.90 per person per day for India is around 21.3%, and overall people in poverty under this line is 260 million. The urban Gini index augmented nearly 5 points from 34.3 to 39.1, and the urban mean log deviation (MLD) index raised by over 6 points from 19.3 to 25.5 during 1993–1994 to 2011–2012 (World Bank 2015a, b). The figures show the rapid increase in urban poverty and inequality.