Abstract :
Census towns are those which are urban in respect to the total population, population density and
occupational engagement as laid down by Census of India in one hand but rural by nature in respect to
administrative identity on the other. An important aspect to be mentioned is that the number of census
towns (CTs) in India has grown from 1,362 in 2001 to 3,894 in 2011. Kerala,West Bengal, and Madhya
Pradesh contribute 11.83, 20.03 and 2.87 percent to total CTs respectively in 2011. A study shows that
the new CTs account for almost 30 percent of the urban growth in the last decade. It also shows that the
largest increase in the number of CTs was in the state of West Bengal and Kerala. In the case of West
Bengal, the increase is 528 CTs and in the case of Kerala, it's 362. Hence, it will be very significant to
analyze the level of fulfillment of civic amenities which should be substantially available to an urban
resident. In the present analysis, West Bengal and Kerala have been taken in to account along with
Madhya Pradesh. The present paper attempts to examine the comparative status of civic amenities
provided by government local bodies in the CTs of these states. Thus the study will focus on the status of
the civic amenities and services cutting across different levels of development in the country like Kerala,
West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh exhibit a relatively high, medium and poor level of development
respectively.
Keyword :
Census Town Statutory Town Civic Amenities Reclassification Urbanity