Census 2011: Tamil Nadu 3rd most urbanised state

CHENNAI: More people in Tamil Nadu have moved from rural to urban areas the last 10 years compared to other states, according to the 2011 Census data. Tamil Nadu tops the list of urbanised states with 48.45% of its population living in urban areas , followed by Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
In the last 20 years, the rate of urbanization in Tamil Nadu has been rapid. According to the 1991 Census, only 34.15% of the total population in Tamil Nadu was classified as urban but in 2011, it has risen to 48.45%, an increase of 14.3%. Since the 2001 census, the percentage of urban population has risen by 4.41%.
“In Tamil Nadu, between 1991 and 1996 many rural areas have been reclassified as urban after the 74th amendment to the Constitution . This could be one reason for more people now living in urban areas,” said Karen Coelho, assistant professor, Madras Institute of Development Studies, who specialises in urban anthropology.
The data shows that Goa is the most urbanised state with 62.17% of the population living in urban areas. But if one goes by geographical area and total population , Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state. In Kerala, 47.72% of people live in urban areas and in Maharashtra 45.23%.
The 2011 Census directorate classifies an area as urban if it fulfills one of two conditions. Any area that comes under a corporation, municipality or town panchayat is automatically classified as urban.
“We also have ‘census towns’ that are considered urban. These are places that have a population of 5,000 and above, have a density of 400 persons per sq km and 75% of the male population employed in non-agricultural occupations,” said S Gopalakrishnan, director of census operations in Tamil Nadu.
“Many areas earlier classified as rural have got better facilities and have been merged with a municipality or corporation,” said Dr N Audinarayana , professor and head, population studies department, Bharathiar University, citing the examples of Chennai and Coimbatore.
“In many districts, people have taken up a non-agricultural occupation even if they have only studied up to class eight. So the area is classified as urban even though it is surrounded by fields,” he said.
Districts adjoining Chennai, Coimbatore and port towns like Tuticorin are now urbanised. In Thanjavur , the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, 35.39% of the population is urban but Kanyakumari district, which has no major industry, has more than 80% of the population in urban areas, mainly on account of its connections to the old Travancore princely state.
“It is definition that makes Kanyakumari more urban than the actual facilities available in the district ,” said Audinarayana.
In absolute numbers, Maharashtra has more than five crore people living in urban areas, higher than other states. Uttar Pradesh has four crore people in cities, and Tamil Nadu comes in third with more than three crore. All the Union Territories are urbanised with Delhi’s tally standing at 97.5% and Puducherry at 68.31%.