Urbanisation

Early civilisations gave us rich culture and heritage to be proud of. Works of literature, science and art improved human race and helped us in many ways. But as time progressed, thin lines of differences increased and greed took over. The hunger to earn more money and be powerful has created a huge gap between a handful of people and the rest of the society. For them to keep being rich and in power, the society has to work and suffer. Our present society is an outcome of years of slavery and sacrifice, to improve the lives of a few.
Governments want to maximise the full potential and productivity of human resource. For this, it is important that the working class are provided with safe and healthy living conditions with good civic amenities. Slowly we are noticing a change in the dwelling system of society. Before big cities existed, there were small towns and villages, which had economic independence and contributed to the overall economic growth. As corporations started spreading their business, financial hubs and bigger cities began forming. In search for jobs, more money and better lifestyle, people started moving to these cities.
In any economy, it is important that development takes place at all levels, be it cities or towns or even villages. Education, health, transport and security must be provided to everyone equally. However, the present trend is contradictory. Big cities have better hospitals, public transport systems and provide all other facilities, which make work easier and more productive. Urban colonies keep increasing in number. Internal migration and immigration are two main reasons for this. Towns and villages have to modify themselves in order to exist and keep the human resource. This need for change is leading to formation of newer cities and financial hubs.
Urbanisation helps the economy in several ways. It ensures that human resource is fully utilised and economy keep growing steadily. It provides good working conditions for the people and also improves their living conditions and lifestyle. Urbanisation also shows that a country is progressing and the people are progressive and ready for more business. This attracts more corporations to come and provide more jobs and contribute to the economy.
However, it does have its flaws. In present society, urbanisation is encouraging people to pursue money and materialistic possessions. Urban areas lay more stress on productivity and money, than values and beliefs. People are considered commodities and potential resources, instead of equal members of the society. On a broader view, urbanisation is slowly decaying the society. Since everyone is in search of money and power, actions of a few can cause harm to others. This occurs at all levels. Since not everyone can find a job, some are left poor and dwell in slums .In their desperation, they can commit acts of violence and crime. Also, since everyone wants to maximise their working hours in order to earn more, there is less emphasis on personal health and family. Eating fast foods, consuming alcohol, smoking and lack of exercise and diet decays the human body and leads to several health problems later in their life. Urbanisation also harms the smaller towns and villages. Human resource is shifted to the cities and the rest of the country has to either transform itself or cease to exist. Finally, despite the fact that everyone is educated and well-read, emphasis lays more on money, than on self.
Present society needs a wake-up call. Even if urbanisation helps the economy, it is slowly decaying the basic human values and ethics. There is no urgent need to chase money; it is only leading to more problems which keep growing. Earlier civilisations and cities also existed, but with a balance between the urban and rural areas. Governments must ensure there is less emphasis on creating an urbanised country and more on the well being and development of the people who form the society.