Rural -Urban linkages and socio-economic development

Rural-urban linkages are both a cause and a consequence of socio-economic development. Though there is a vast volume of literature on this subject, there are quite a few gaps in our knowledge about the effects that rural-urban linkages have on socio-economic development and the factors that affect such linkages. This study seeks to explore the relationship between rural-urban linkages and socio-economic development through a case study of two villages in Gujarat, a relatively well developed village from Anand district and a relatively under-developed village from Kheda district. A sample of 50 households was randomly selected from each of the two selected villages for detailed study and analysis.

Findings of the study revealed that most of the farmers in the developed village grow commercial crops while in the under-developed village they still continue to grow traditional crops. The average total income of the farmers in the developed village was significantly higher than that of their counterparts in the under-developed village. As regards expenditure, people in the developed village spent more on almost all non food items as compared to their counterparts in the under-developed village. And, in general, total employment per household from agricultural and non-agricultural activities was more in the developed village than in the under-developed village. From the regression analysis done, it was observed that stronger rural urban linkages has facilitated the use of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides and this had a positive bearing on the per capita income of the farming community. Furthermore, the basic infrastructural facilities like roads, bank, and post office together contributed significantly to the higher level of economic growth and per capita income in the developed village. The tests of equality of means revealed that there was a significant difference between the means of most of the variables relating to the land owning category while landless people in both the sample villages were not affected by the developmental status of the village. The study supports the general observation that while over time the rich are getting richer, the poor remain poor or even becoming poorer in the country. Also, it was revealed that weak rural-urban linkages in the underdeveloped area is the result of, inter alia, poor infrastructural facilities and the opposite seems true for developed area.