Census Towns in India

Policy Research Working Papers, 2016

Cities, 2018

Indian Journal of Spatial Science Spring Issue, 10 (2) 2019 pp. 116 - 122, 2019

Census towns are those which are urban in respect to the total population, population density and occupational engagement as laid down by Census of India in one hand but rural by nature in respect to administrative identity on the other. An important aspect to be mentioned is that the number of census towns (CTs) in India has grown from 1,362 in 2001 to 3,894 in 2011. Kerala,West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh contribute 11.83, 20.03 and 2.87 percent to total CTs respectively in 2011. A study shows that the new CTs account for almost 30 percent of the urban growth in the last decade. It also shows that the largest increase in the number of CTs was in the state of West Bengal and Kerala. In the case of West Bengal, the increase is 528 CTs and in the case of Kerala, it's 362. Hence, it will be very significant to analyze the level of fulfillment of civic amenities which should be substantially available to an urban resident. In the present analysis, West Bengal and Kerala have been taken in to account along with Madhya Pradesh. The present paper attempts to examine the comparative status of civic amenities provided by government local bodies in the CTs of these states. Thus the study will focus on the status of the civic amenities and services cutting across different levels of development in the country like Kerala, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh exhibit a relatively high, medium and poor level of development respectively.

The unexpected increase in the number of census towns (CTs) in the last census has thrust them into the spotlight. Using a hitherto unexploited dataset, it is found that many of the new CTs satisfied the requisite criteria in 2001 itself; mitigating concerns of inflated urbanisation. The new CTs account for almost 30% of the urban growth in last decade, with large inter - state variations. They are responsible for almost the entire growth in urbanisation in Kerala and almost none in Chhattisgarh. Consequently, the estimated contribution of migration is similar to that in previous intercensal periods. Further, while some new CTs are concentrated around million - plus cities, more than four - fifths are situated outside the proximity of such cities, with a large majority not even near Class I towns, though they form part of local agglomerations. This indicates a dispersed pattern of in - situ urbanisation. A growing share of urban population in these CTs is thus being governed under the rural administrative framework, despite very different demographic and economic characteristics, which may affect their future growth.

Exploring Urban Change in South Asia, 2017

2013

The new CTs account for almost 30% of the urban growth in the last decade. The estimated contribution of migration is similar to that in previous intercensal periods. Further, the data indicates a dispersed pattern of in situ urbanisation, with the reluctance of state policy to recognise new statutory towns partly responsible for the growth of new CTs. A growing share of India’s urban population, living in these CTs, is being governed under

The classification of 2 532 new settlements in the Census of India 2011 as 'urban', and specifically as 'Census Towns', has brought small and emerging urban centres back into the purview of urban studies and urban development in India. Taking this to be a point of entry, this article seeks to explore how the urban has been framed and approached from different and competing epistemolog-ical standpoints in the Indian context. First, it attempts to outline the different epistemologies of the urban in India, which may be seen as competing traditions because of the unequal stakes they have claimed so far in public and policy discourse. Then, it presents two brief case studies of Census Towns from the state of West Bengal to put forth new questions in this regard. The case studies illustrate significant gaps and discrepancies between the lived experience of the urban and its representation in dominant epistemological frameworks such as the official census. I argue that the historical development of various settlement systems, which constitutes the core narrative of urbanization in India, cannot be understood in all its complexity through mere census extracts or aerial images, but requires engagement with rich, embedded epistemologies that have taken shape within these settlements.

INDIAN JOURNAL OF SPATIAL SCIENCE, 2019

Census towns are those which are urban in respect to the total population, population density and occupational engagement as laid down by Census of India in one hand but rural by nature in respect to administrative identity on the other. An important aspect to be mentioned is that the number of census towns (CTs) in India has grown from 1,362 in 2001 to 3,894 in 2011. Kerala,West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh contribute 11.83, 20.03 and 2.87 percent to total CTs respectively in 2011. A study shows that the new CTs account for almost 30 percent of the urban growth in the last decade. It also shows that the largest increase in the number of CTs was in the state of West Bengal and Kerala. In the case of West Bengal, the increase is 528 CTs and in the case of Kerala, it's 362. Hence, it will be very significant to analyze the level of fulfillment of civic amenities which should be substantially available to an urban resident. In the present analysis, West Bengal and Kerala have been taken in to account along with Madhya Pradesh. The present paper attempts to examine the comparative status of civic amenities provided by government local bodies in the CTs of these states. Thus the study will focus on the status of the civic amenities and services cutting across different levels of development in the country like Kerala, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh exhibit a relatively high, medium and poor level of development respectively.