🏘️ What are Human Settlements?
Human settlements refer to the organized human habitation in a specific area, ranging from small villages to large urban cities. It includes houses, roads, infrastructure, and supporting services.
🏡 Types of Settlements
- Rural Settlements: Mainly based on agriculture; less population and scattered houses.
- Urban Settlements: Based on industry, services, and commerce; more dense and planned.
📍 Rural Settlements in India
India’s rural settlements vary in form based on geographical, historical, and cultural factors. The main types are:
- Clustered Settlements: Houses are closely spaced with narrow lanes. Common in fertile regions like the Ganga Valley and plains of Punjab.
- Semi-Clustered Settlements: Smaller clusters spread around a central point. Formed due to caste or community-based segregation.
- Hamleted Settlements: A village is divided into several hamlets, each with a few houses. Common in tribal areas and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- Dispersed Settlements: Houses are scattered over a large area, often on hills or plateaus. Found in Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan.
🏙️ Urban Settlements in India
Urbanization in India is increasing rapidly. Cities are classified into:
- Metropolitan Cities (e.g., Delhi, Mumbai)
- Tier-2 Cities (e.g., Jaipur, Lucknow)
- Townships and Satellite Towns
🏙️ Urban Towns: Based on Evolution
- Ancient Towns: Historical towns that evolved due to religious or cultural importance (e.g., Varanasi, Madurai).
- Medieval Towns: Developed during Sultanate and Mughal periods with forts and markets (e.g., Hyderabad, Agra).
- Modern Towns: Developed during British rule and post-independence (e.g., Mumbai, New Delhi).
🏙️ Urban Towns: Based on Functions
- Administrative Towns: Seats of government administration (e.g., New Delhi, Chandigarh).
- Industrial Towns: Developed around industries (e.g., Jamshedpur, Durgapur).
- Transport Towns: Developed at crossroads or ports (e.g., Agra, Itarsi).
- Commercial Towns: Trading and business hubs (e.g., Mumbai, Kanpur).
- Cultural Towns: Known for cultural heritage or pilgrimage (e.g., Haridwar, Puri).
- Recreational Towns: Tourism-based towns (e.g., Shimla, Mussoorie).
- Mining Towns: Located near mining areas (e.g., Raniganj, Singrauli).
🏗️ Problems of Human Settlements
- Poor infrastructure and sanitation
- Overcrowding and slums in urban areas
- Lack of connectivity and resources in rural areas
🌱 Measures for Improvement
- Better urban planning and smart cities
- Rural development schemes (like PM Awas Yojana, RURBAN mission)
- Infrastructure improvement in both urban and rural settlements
✅ Conclusion
Balanced regional development, environmental planning, and inclusive policies are necessary for sustainable human settlements in India.