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INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is the mainstay of Indian economy because of its high share in employment and livelihood notwithstanding its reduced contribution to the nation's gross domestic product (GDP). The share of agriculture in GDP has registered a steady decline from 36.4 per cent in 1982-83 to 18.5 per cent in 2006-07. Yet this sector continues to support more than half a billion people providing employment to 52 per cent of the workforce (Government of India, 2008a). In spite of rapid urbanisation during last few decades, India's rural population still accounts for about three-fourths of the total population. The rural population constitutes about 80 per cent of the total population in 1971 and the population has been continuously falling marginally since then to 76.7, 74.3 and 72.2 per cent in 1981, 1991 and 2001, respectively.
India shares most characteristic features of urbanisation in the developing countries. India is the second most populous country in the world after China. The country supports 16.87 per cent of the world's population on its meager 2.4 per cent world surface area of 135.79 million square kms. Historical evidence suggests that urbanisation process is inevitable and universal. Urbanisation is the process through which rural population tends to move over to cities and towns in search of livelihood and better amenities and good lifestyles. Though urbanisation is a worldwide phenomenon, it is especially prevalent in India, where urban areas have experienced an unprecedented rate of growth over 30 years. India has shared the growth patterns with some of the fast growing regions in Asia. The country has witnessed around 8 per cent growth in GDP in the last couple of years and India's urban population is increasing at a faster rate than its total population. Urbanisation has been recognised as an important component of economic growth. At 28 per cent, the pace of urbanisation, however, has been slow and lower than the average Asia. The absolute number of people in urban cities and towns, however, has gone up substantially. It is expected that rate of urbanisation will increase in the coming years. The Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections constituted by the National Commission on Population estimates that around 38 per cent of our population will live in cities...