Small Market Town can enhance the rural development.
Small
Market Town can enhance the rural development.
With
reference to rural development in Nepal.
Presented by: Sudershan Basnet
(This
paper presents the importance of small market town which enhances the rural
areas for the betterment of their people. Small market town can be an effective
tool in rural development. Before talking its importance, here we have mentioned
some related terminology, data, definition and supportive information which are
used in.)
What is market town mean?
Market town is a legal term, originating in the Middle
Ages, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city. A town may be correctly described as a "market town"
or as having "market rights", even if it no longer holds a market,
provided the legal right to do so still exist.
According to Cambridge dictionary market town defined as a small town in
the countryside, especially in Europe, that has a regular market and acts as
a business centre for surrounding farms and villages. A market town,
whose main function is that of a shopping and service centre for the
surrounding region.
To
determine and define small towns we basically emphasize the size of population,
because our information about other characteristics and specifications of these
towns are limited. The definition of small town is different in variant
countries and regions because of different social, economic and population
conditions and circumstances
Does Small Market Town play
important role to enhance the rural development?
During
recent years, because of the fast development of large cities in developing
countries, the emergence of problems related to inadequacy of residential units
and the increase in the rate of unemployment, some researchers suggested that
development planning should be made on the basis of putting emphasis on the
activity of small towns. Because of the employment possibilities, education and
other basic needs, large cities are the final destination of most rustics and
migrants to small towns. Supporters of the theory about the role of small towns
in development believe that in case of providing these needs in small towns the
migration paths will be changed and instead of large cities, small towns will
become the final destination of rural migrants (Shekouei, 2001).
Small
towns play a very important role as “Rural Development Centers” in the growth
process of villages and provide services in different fields of marketing,
providing agricultural inputs such as fertilizer and agricultural machinery,
civic services such as educational facilities, medical care and so on for rural
region in their surrounding (Amakchi, 2004). Welfare facilities are usually
distributed heterogeneously in developing countries and they are usually
centered in large cities. According to the theory of social justice, all the
citizens even those who live in rural regions should have access to public
facilities such as education and health care facilities. For those who have
been inspired by central place theory and their unconditional executives, small
towns are considered as proper places for providing these services to rural
regions (Tuerah, 1997;Weitze, 1965). The Advocators
of the small town development see an important role for small towns in
improving the conditions of the rural poor in developing countries. Firstly an
argument for promoting small towns is that they provide markets for urban
consumer goods from higher level towns and act as trading centers for agricultural
goods from rural areas. (Rondinelli, 1984; Gaile, 1991).It is believed that
urban population growth and agglomeration in small towns creates increased
demand for agricultural products from nearby areas.
Secondly,
small towns are seen as possible locations for providing non-farm employment
for the growing rural population in hinder land villages. (Gaile, 1992;
Leinbach, 1992) With expansion of employment in small towns, they can act as
alternate destinations for potential migrants to large cities. (Mathur, 1982). The
rapid growth of large cities often results in greater regional inequalities,
problems of governance and environmental sustainability, all of which call for greater
attention to small town from equity consideration as well (ESCA, 1991; Jones, 1991).
Thirdly
proponents of small towns consider them appropriate location for concentrating
public services, such as agricultural development services, health services,
and educational facilities for reaching a larger rural populace. (Taylor, 1981).
It is assumed that the provision of agriculture credit and inputs at the small
town level can introduce farming innovations at the lowest level, rather than
allowing them to filter inefficiently down the hierarchy of urban centers and
transportation routes causing time and distance delay effects.
European
Economic and Social Committee have covered the opinion of Tomes Jones in 2017.
In his presentation, he strongly advocates the village and small town as catalysts
for rural development.
Rural communities have a central role to play in the smart, sustainable
economies of the 21st century. New and better ways must be sought to empower
rural communities to play their full part in addressing vital policy areas such
as food security, renewable energy, environmental protection and job creation.
Provision of connectivity via broadband is, however, one of the key
prerequisites that are needed to make villages and small towns full partners in
the modern economy. Villages and small towns are hubs which sustain community
development in rural areas. They are under increasing pressure from centralization
of services, e.g. schools, health, social and transport services. Rural
communities are afraid that their loss of services is being ignored. Declining
population reduces small businesses while house prices are inflated beyond the
reach of young people by the dormitory effect. This opinion considers the root
causes, the negative impact on rural areas and highlights best initiatives
to re-energies communities through the (Rural Development Project) RDP and
other support measures. An EESC opinion will add momentum to the need for
strong institutional intervention.
Jones highlighted some major points
for the improvement of small town market in European Union.
- The
EESC fully supports the European Commission's Smart Villages Initiative,
especially because of the promises made regarding cooperation between
Directorates.
- Public
services in education, training, health and social care should be
integrated, clustered and be innovative in using technological advances.
- Planning
authorities in rural areas should champion an enabling process for
renewing redundant village and small-town buildings, ensuring low business
rates for starter businesses and compensatory contributions from
edge-of-town retail projects.
- Poor
transport connectivity is another challenge and transport sharing,
community-owned buses and cars are recommended where the private sector
withdraws.
- Where
possible, employers should be encouraged to support distance working, and
to realize the potential benefits of rural/urban partnerships.
- Both
agri - and rural tourism, health-related activities and the branding of
local farm and craft products, as well as increasing the cultural and
historical catalogue of events is very important. Through the enabling
support of the RDP, there is scope for business entrepreneurs to attract
inward investment and to develop and market added-value products.
- Villages
and small towns need empowering with greater powers and access to financial
resources to lead and support the wishes of their constituents.
- LEADER
and Local Action Groups should be fully supported in their efforts to
promote local development - by encouraging businesses, both private and
not-for-profit to start and grow - and to ensure an engaged and supportive
community spirit. With improved cooperation, these efforts could be
expanded through Community-led Local Development (CLLD).
- People
in villages and small towns should commit to a sense of community that
encourages leadership from within. Schools and local mentors should
promote leadership.
- Youth
representative bodies should be supported to create a pathway for youth
forums in local communities which will galvanize action on their needs and
aspirations.
- The
Committee recommends "good practices" to be shared at all
levels.
In
the perspective of Nepal, there is lack of data on rural urban relations.
However there are available few published or unpublished materials related to
rural urban relations, but they are proved of limited value. According to the
population census of Nepal, the urban centers are categorically divided into
two types. The first type refers to the designated urban areas with population
size of 10,000 and over. Description of the designated urban areas is already
made in earlier unit. The fundamental feature of Nepalese urban centers is that
majority of them can be described as urban village, as relatively larger
proportion of the working force in most of the urban areas is supported by
primary production sector, specifically the agriculture. The primary production
sector including agriculture, forestry and fishery in the total urban working
population as shared 28.2 percent, which is the largest among the economic
activities listed by the 2001 census (CBS, 2002). This sector has dominated in
17 out of 58 designated urban areas, in which over 50 percent of the working
population is employed.
The
second type refers to the small towns with population size below 10,000, which
are not recognized officially as urban localities. The country consists
preponderantly of small town market centers, which are widespread across the
country. The 2001 population census has listed a total of 3,889 settlement localities,
of which 3,533 are small localities or “Rural” with a population of below 10,000,
making up nearly 91 percent of the total settlement localities. The population
of such small settlement localities accounts for 67.1 percent (CBS, 2001).
The
famous Indian travel site named ‘Indian Chief Travel’ posted 10 best small
towns in Nepal in 2013 which are given below.
-
Tansen, Palpa
-
Shankhu , Kathmandu
-
Thimi, Bhaktapur
-
Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok
-
Kirtipur, Kathmandu
-
Kakani, Nuwakot
-
Lantang, Rasuwa
-
Panauti, Kavrepalanchok
-
Namche Bazar, Solukhumbu
-
Bungmati and Khokana, Lalitpur
The
Asia Pacific Population Journal published report in 1995; they mentioned about Banepa
Small Market Town which is located in Kavre district with a population of
12,537 in 1991. Two major activities dominate Banepa's economy. Firstly Banepa
continues its historic importance as the major wholesale centre for daily
essential goods such as rice, salt, kerosene, cloths, catering to people from
the eastern hills. Secondly, the various cottage industries, such as handloom,
sweater-weaving, carpet-making, rice-milling and dairy industries, generate
non-farm employment for the townsfolk and surrounding villages. Recently, an
activity which has increasingly gained in importance is transport-related
businesses, taking advantage of Banepa's important access to the eastern hills.
As
per their studies, the journal found following role of small market town which
enhance to develop rural areas of Nepal.
1. As
market center of rural areas
2. Small
market town provides urban services to the surrounding areas of rural people.
3. Small
market town helps in providing employment opportunities
Conclusion
As
per the above findings roles of small market town supports the overall
development of rural areas of Nepal. Small market town plays role as a market
center, urban service provider, employment opportunities creator and as
catalyst for the development as well. Thus, small market towns enhance the
rural areas for their better and rapid development in Nepal. The Nepal
government should more focus on infrastructural investment, improvement of
village agricultural production, facility of agricultural credit, good health
and educational support, and all the administration services to the each and
every local unit. By avoiding some constrains of small town in promoting rural
development, concerned authority should focus towards the entire small town in
Nepal.
Total Contained Words: 1870
Reference:
-
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Central Bureau Commission (2002). A
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Presented (Tom Jones)
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