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With the young urban India in charge of the major chunk of economy of the country, disposable income has set a new benchmark. And with that has arrived the inclination to buy things that stand out. This is where quirks started entering Indian households. Quirky key chains and coasters soon gave way to furniture and bigger stuff that have some crazy element in it. And this is where young entrepreneur <keyword id="807882" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="natasha-jain">Natasha Jain</keyword> came with her venture <keyword id="819560" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bent">Bent</keyword> Chair. A young and rapidly growing Indian furniture and accessories, Bent Chair has exhibited tremendous growth and potential in a short span of 10 months, gaining a strong customer base in its home market. Bent Chair has its roots in engineering and technology and follows a very methodological approach towards its products. The production also involves a cooperative of skilled artisans. All of the magic takes place at 5 manufacturing facilities in Ambala that houses the latest woodworking machinery as well as a huge space for assembly, storage, and testing of finished products. In addition to the primary manufacturing unit, four facilities have been set up for polishing, carving, weaving, and painting of Bent Chair products. The home furnishing market is quite competitive with established brands already and then Ikea is also making its way. But Bent Chair is confident of its own game. “We have exhibited tremendous growth and potential in just within a year since our inception, gaining a strong customer base in India.This is why we think we will survive the big waves. We are self funded and profitable, while most startups these days are not We have already expanded to international markets, with customers appreciating our products abroad as well We are delving into online customization of products, which is a rare trend among Indian companies Our focus is on design and aesthetics while keeping products affordable,” said <keyword id="6367260" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="jain">Jain</keyword>. Talking about quirks, Jain said, “almost 30% of our sales is for quirks. Being one of the few brands catering to this product range, we think there is still a huge scope and a market for the same in India.” Usually, 28-40 years old opt for quirks. In descending order of Volume Mumbai, Bangalore, <keyword id="6354925" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword>, Delhi are the major buyers of quirks. The buying behaviour of people opting for quirks is impulsive and customers like keeping themselves updated on recent products. They mostly buy furniture that's also eclectic and modern. “ Most of our products are modern and quirky, yet traditional. For example our signature Maharaja Chair is a modern take on the traditional design. The local artisans are much involved in making such products. The bent man table is a quirky table which is made by local artisans and craftsmen in our factory in Ambala. Similarly a lot of our products have involvement of local artisans in manufacturing them,” Jain told Business Insider. While quirks are always expensive online, Jain says, “Most of our accessories are under 5000 which seems to be an affordable price range for quirky products. The mass appeal and the customer response we have been getting is a testimony to the same. So we believe that we are in the 'affordable price tag' bracket however a constant endeavour is to optimize our costs in a way that we maintain the same.”

This is what makes urban India hooked to quirky furniture

New Delhi, Mar 4 () Even as awareness for insurance has increased in the country over the last one year, urban India continues to feel financially insecure, according to a survey.Max Life Insurance Company (Max Life) on Wednesday unveiled the findings of the second edition of its flagship survey 'Max Life India Protection Quotient' 2.0 in association with KANTAR.The sample size of the survey conducted between December 2019 to Januayr 2020 was 7,014, wherein 25 cities were covered -- 6 metros, 9 tier I and 10 tier II cities.Of the other parameters, the survey asked questionnaire from people (between 25-55 years) having annual household income of Rs 2 lakh and above, as well as those who were decisions makers or influencers of financial products.India Protection Quotient moved up by 2 points to 37, as per the survey.The survey witnessed an increase in India's level of term insurance awareness, term insurance ownership and protection quotient over the last 12 months.However, with a movement of 2 points on the protection quotient scale from 35 to 37, it indicated that urban India continues to feel financially insecure.The knowledge Index at 48, rose 9 points and life insurance ownership surged 500 bps to 70 per cent from last year. Term insurance ownership increased 700 bps to 28 per cent, whereas term awareness jumped 1,000 bps to 57 per cent.Also, the knowledge index across cities moved up by at least 6 points and Delhi continues to lead with protection quotient of 47.The study said that while South India continued to outperform other regions with protection quotient of 40 and life insurance ownership of 77 per cent, Western India witnessed the most significant growth of 7 points in life insurance ownership at 64 per cent.Delhi and Hyderabad led with the Protection Quotient of 47 and 46, respectively, while Ludhiana despite witnessing the maximum growth from last year, continued to have the lowest level of 27 this year. Chennai is the only city to witness a decline from last year on the quotient.Term insurance products witnessed the highest rise in awareness (1,000 bps to 57 per cent) and ownership (700 bps to 28 per cent) among different product categories such as market linked insurance and endowment products.Over the year, millennials have grown more anxious about financial security with their top anxieties being day to day medical expenses and sustaining lifestyle.When compared, women remained more anxious about financial security than men across several parameters. The survey also revealed that Tier II cities focus more on savings than protection, and demonstrated a preference of endowment polices over term insurance, as per the findings of the survey."Outcomes of IPQ 2.0 gives me the confidence that Indian Life Insurance industry is moving in the right direction. Sharp increase in awareness and ownership of life insurance and term insurance can be seen as a precursor to higher protection quotient in the years to come," Max Life Managing Director &amp; CEO Prashant Tripathy said.The survey also gave the industry some deep insights for future such as the growing reception towards health apps in return for discounted premiums that young India is reflecting preference for, return of premium as the key feature, continued preference for human sellers and growing awareness about insufficiency of cover among other such findings, he said."It has been observed that Indians do not give much thought to this basic element of financial planning due to which awareness level about life insurance products for financial protection is low. Further to an insightful survey conducted last year... to uncover prevalent attitudes and behaviour that could help scale the overall adoption of life insurance, thereby building financial security of the nation," Soumya Mohanty, Managing Director and CCO, Kantar Insights, South Asia, said. KPM BAL

Urban India continues to feel financially insecure: Survey

To transform Indian cities and towns, and make them engine for growth, Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> will tomorrow launch three mega flagship projects, including the <keyword id="6377036" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="smart-cities">Smart Cities</keyword> proposal at the cost of whopping Rs 4 lakh crore. The PM will release operational guidelines for these projects - 100 Smart Cities, the <keyword id="2829341" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Atal-Mission-for-Rejuvenation">Atal Mission for Rejuvenation</keyword> and <keyword id="2130852" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Urban-transformation">Urban Transformation</keyword> (<keyword id="29369" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Amrut">AMRUT</keyword>) for 500 cities and <keyword id="2751345" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="housing-for-all">Housing-For-All</keyword> by 2022 in urban areas, a PTI report said. 

	Modi will also unveil the logo of the housing mission. He was involved during the finalisation of its design.
 

	The guidelines for each of the three projects were made after almost year-long consultations with states, Union Territories and urban local bodies.
 

	While the Smart City and AMRUT projects will draw Rs 48,000 crore and and Rs 50,000 crore, respectively, in central grants over five years, Housing-for-All by 2022 will see the government spend about Rs 3 lakh crore in the next seven years as it aims to build 2 crore affordable houses in urban areas for slum dwellers and people from economically-weaker sections (EWS) and low income groups.
 

	Under the housing scheme, interest subsidy of 6.5% on housing loans with tenure up to 15 years will be provided to EWS and low income groups, giving them a benefit of around Rs 2.3 lakh each.
 <keyword id="168340" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Urban-Development-Minister">Urban Development Minister</keyword> M <keyword id="74369" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Venkaiah-Naidu">Venkaiah Naidu</keyword> said the three projects will herald a new urban era. "The journey for team India begins tomorrow," he said. 

	States and local bodies will play a vital role in the execution of these projects, the minister said, adding that there will also be a lot of scope for private participation.
 

	The Smart City project seeks to improve quality of life in 100 selected cities with 24 hour water and power supply, world class transportation system, better education and recreational facilities, e-governance and environment-friendly atmosphere, among others. 
 The Smart City project will be based on <keyword id="457507" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="PPP-model">PPP model</keyword>, Naidu said. 

	AMRUT seeks to ensure basic infrastructure for 500 cities with a population of above one lakh. Ensuring water supply to each household, sewer connections, sanitation and solid waste management, provision for roads and public transportation beside implementation of reforms in urban governance would be the focus under the scheme. 
 While urban population will increase by over 400 million to touch 814 million by 2050, India faces a mass <keyword id="142764" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Urbanisation">urbanisation</keyword> challenge even as many of its biggest cities are already bursting at the seams. 

	With the help of these schemes, the government is hoping to bring about a transformation of urban India with the critical goal of making the country an economic hub. 
 

	The launch will be followed by a two-day workshop in which over 1,000 mayors, municipal heads, state ministers and chief secretaries will take part. 
	 
	(Image: Reuters)

PM Modi to launch three projects to develop urban India

Mumbai, Apr 24 () A consumer research among urban Indians has found a near-allout support for the COVID lockdown, with 98 per cent of those polled saying the shuttering has been effective in controlling the spread of the deadly virus.But a large number of those polled in the top 16 cities are worried about the economic fallout of the more than a month-long lockdown on their incomes and jobs.The overall perception on the crisis recovery is 'good' on health front and 'poor' on the economic front, said a report by market research firm TRA Research, which is into consumer insights and brand analytics.While 73 per cent of those polled trust the government's ability to combat the crisis, the same for the government's economic ability to fight the battle is only 63 per cent, showing that the fears of a long-term financial and economic impact are prominent in the minds of the people, the report said.The survey conducted across 16 cities from April 10 to 22, among over 900 people, delves into their perceptions, attitudes, worries, fears and expectations.According to the report, overall 91 per cent feel that the lockdown is effective, while 98 per cent of those polled in five cities feel its effectiveness is excellent. However, as much as 74 per cent feel the overall implementation of the lockdown across cities is lower.On the findings of the survey, N Chandramouli, chief executive of TRA Research said the survey shows big gaps in information and knowledge about the COVID transmission, especially in two age-brackets -- 21-24 years and 46-50 years. The same information gap is seen across cities, barring Mumbai.It is most important that parents take cognizance of the fact that children are going through extremely traumatic conditions during the lockdown, and need to take time and effort to explain and guide their kids through with empathy and love, Chandramouli said.The highest concern for families across the cities is the fear about contract the disease (74 per cent), followed by job/business loss (68 per cent), and delayed salary (62 per cent). While Lucknow has the highest number of worried families at 85 per cent, followed by Nagpur at 81 per cent. BEN BALBAL

Urban India gives Covid lockdown a thumbs-up

New Delhi, Along with the sharp decline in poverty in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>, there has also been a marked reduction in the rural-urban income divide in the country, according to an SBI Research analysis of a Consumer Expenditure Survey released on Tuesday. Rural Poverty has staged a significant 440-basis point decline since 2018-19 and <keyword id="20742154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban-poverty" source="keywords">Urban Poverty</keyword> a 170-basis point decline post-pandemic, which shows that the government initiatives for promoting the welfare of the bottom of the pyramid are having a significant beneficial impact on rural livelihood, the report states. Rural Poverty is now at 7.2 per cent (25.7 per cent in 2011-12 while <keyword id="19945793" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban" source="keywords">Urban</keyword> Poverty is at 4.6 per cent (13.7 per cent in 2011-12), official data show. The report further states that India is becoming more aspirational as indicated by the increasing share of discretionary consumption (like spending on beverages, intoxicants, entertainment, durable goods, etc.) in rural and urban areas. The speed of aspiration is swifter in rural areas as compared to urban areas The SBI report states that the difference between rural and urban monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) is now at 71.2 per cent, a rapid decline from 88.2 per cent in 2009-10. Around 30 per cent of the Rural MPCE is explained mainly due to steps taken by the government in terms of DBT transfers, investments in building of rural infrastructures, augmenting farmer's income, all together improving the rural livelihood significantly. Enhanced physical infrastructure is enabling two-way rural-urban mobility, which is the prime reason for the incrementally shrinking horizontal income gap between the rural and urban landscape and the vertical income gap within rural Income classes, according to the SBI report. The states once considered laggards are showing the maximum improvement in rural and urban gap. States like Bihar, <keyword id="19894922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uttar-pradesh" source="keywords">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>, Madhya Pradesh are showing increasingly the impact of these factors, the report adds. The bottom half of the rural pyramid are now having consumption patterns mostly converging to urban counterparts. The report also states that revised MPCE weights in CPI computation could help India real GDP growth for FY24 to top 7.5 per cent. Other highlights: *Rural and Urban consumption are growing, on an average, at nearly the same growth rate (2.66 per cent for rural, 2.59 per cent for Urban) across classes. Using the statistical equivalent of <keyword id="20744250" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gini-coefficient" source="keywords">Gini Coefficient</keyword>, Horizontal Consumption Inequality between Rural and Urban across fractiles has declined from 0.560 to 0.475 *Urban Rural gap as a percentage of rural consumption is on a declining trend. It has declined from 90.8 per cent in 2004-05 to 71.2 per cent in 2022-23 and we believe, is projected to further decrease to 65.1 per cent in 2029-30 *In the lowest segment, urban consumption is only 46 per cent more dissimilar than the rural counterpart. Across fractile classes, urban consumption is only 68 per cent more dissimilar than rural counterpart, a number much less than the all India average. This indicates the bottom half of the rural pyramid are now having MPCE patterns mostly converging to Urban counterparts.

India's rural-urban income gap declines sharply amid fall in poverty level: SBI Report

<ul><li>According to <keyword id="11372959" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="iamai-kantar-icube-2020-report">IAMAI Kantar ICUBE 2020 Report</keyword>, India is likely to have 900 million active Internet users by 2025 as against around 622 million as of 2020, registering a growth of about 45% in the next five years.</li><li>While internet users grew by 4% in urban India -- reaching 323 million users (67% of urban population) in 2020, <keyword id="3497257" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-adoption">digital adoption</keyword> continues to be propelled by rural India – clocking a 13% growth to 299 million internet users (31% of rural population) over the past year.</li></ul>India is likely to have 900 million active Internet users by 2025 as against around 622 million as of 2020, registering a growth of about 45% in the next five years, according to <keyword id="149966" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IAMAI">IAMAI</keyword> <keyword id="9172699" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kantar-ICUBE">Kantar ICUBE</keyword> 2020 Report. The report also revealed that internet usership in rural regions witnessed a much faster year-on-year growth in 2020. The report suggests that even though the Internet penetration in urban is more than 2X that of rural, usership in rural has been growing at a faster rate on a year-on-year basis. While internet users grew by 4% in urban India -- reaching 323 million users (67% of urban population) in 2020, digital adoption continues to be propelled by rural India – clocking a 13% growth to 299 million internet users (31% of rural population) over the past year. This indicates that there’s a lot of headroom for growth in rural India and this would help in bridging the urban-rural digital divide. However, the growth rate of AIU (those who have accessed internet in the last one month) has progressively reduced over the years and is the lowest in the last four years. It also finds that nine out of ten active internet users access the internet every day; On average, they spend around 107 minutes (1.8 hours) actively on the internet daily. Though the proportion of daily users is marginally higher in urban India as compared to rural India, AIU in urban India is spending 17% more time as compared to rural India. Biswapriya Bhattacharjee, Executive Vice President, Insights Division, Kantar, stated, “By 2025, there would be a greater number of internet users in rural India than in urban India. Given this, the digital ecosystem will need to evolve to address the specific needs of this emerging demography. Vernacular, Voice and Video will emerge as the game changers for the digital ecosystem over the next few years.” Small towns account for almost two out of five active internet users while the top 9 metros account to 33% of the active internet users in urban India. The report suggests, of 1433 million population in India, 622 million individuals are AIU and this translates to about 43% of the total population (across urban and rural India). However, with a sizable population not accessing the internet actively in rural India, there is huge headroom for growth in the next few years. Interestingly, the proportion of male to female AIU remains almost the same in rural and urban India. In urban India, the ratio between male to female Internet users is around 57:43 while in rural India, the ratio between male to female Internet users is 58:42. Mobile continues to remain the device of choice for accessing the internet in both urban and rural. Given the affordability of mobile devices along with the availability of cheaper data plans, accessing the Internet through a mobile device has clearly become the first choice, finds the report. Digital Services have assumed great importance for India with the government actively promoting a vision of $1 Tn digital economy. Also, Internet has become a lifeline to most of us amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Almost every decision achieves fruition with the able interference and assistance of the internet. <keyword id="1754604" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> has made us acutely realize the importance of the internet. The internet helped businesses tide through the tough lockdowns, individuals connected with each other, used the opportunity to learn and acquire new skills, and provided much-needed meaning and reason to carry on. The spread of the internet has been possible thanks to the joint efforts by the government (promoting e-governance, <keyword id="1929810" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Digital-India">Digital India</keyword> vision), telecom services providers (more affordable data packages, better connectivity), and Internet Service providers (popular services like digital entertainment and e-commerce, expanding content in Indian languages). IAMAI stated that the ongoing growth of internet penetration in India provides a critical platform for all stakeholders to harness the digital revolution. The pandemic has also fueled the growth. The association expressed optimism that the government’s policies, regulations, and industry’s support will further strengthen the digital footprint in India and ensure a robust digital economy in the country.

Internet usership in rural India grew much faster than urban cities, clocks 13% growth to 299 million internet users in 2020: IAMAI-Kantar ICUBE 2020 Report

<ul><li>A new study by home rental company Nestaway has shown that nearly 91% people residing in urban India don’t register as voters when they move to another city. </li><li>Over 73% of people are unaware how to register after migrating to a new place. </li><li>More than half of the people think they can not cast a vote if they relocate.</li></ul>With the general elections around the corner in India, political parties are more aggressively campaigning in rural as well as urban India to fetch votes. While India’s voter turnout improved in the last election, moving houses in urban areas is a significant barrier in people exercising their right. A new study titled ‘‘Urban Migrants: The silent spectators of Indian Elections,’ by India’s home rental platform Nestaway, has revealed that nearly 91% of people in urban India are not yet registered to vote in the cities they live, especially after their move to another urban location. With many people migrating to other cities due to changes in job, marriage and higher education, lack of awareness was also an issue. As much as 73% people are, in fact, unaware how to register to vote in their new cities, said the study. While the Indian authorities have deployed social media channels and private institutions to educate people on the voting process, 63% of migrants think that they can not cast a vote if they relocate. Despite that, a good 75% want to vote in <keyword id="56978" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-elections">Lok Sabha elections</keyword> in 2019. The study surveyed over 1,100 urban migrants in their 20s, residing in metropolitan cities including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Bangalore. Speaking about the survey, Amrendra Sahu, co-founder and CEO Nestaway Technologies said, “Many urban migrants have tried to update their addresses in their voter registration. However, if you do not belong to the same state you are residing in, the entire process is very tiresome, especially if they do not speak the local language. The authorities are more proactive now in helping out fresh voters.” Another <a href="https://www.livemint.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections/the-election-commission-s-inclusion-challenge-in-elections-2019-1551817878706.html">report by</a> Mint analysing the electoral and census data in India has shown that more than 50 million voters, including youngsters, may be missing from the electoral rolls of India in general election 2019. Urban migration trends can also skew men versus women voters, according to SBI research. Over the years, mostly male population have been migrating from one state to another due to several reasons like looking for better quality of life, employment, marriage and education which can impact the overall voter turnout rate, SBI report said, adding that it is estimated the percentage of voter turnout among major states show that states like UP, Bihar, Odisha, Rajasthan &amp; J&amp;K have net “out migration” and, consequently, low voter turnout rate. According to the report, changes in the electoral process might be necessary to correct this, especially with the availability of Aadhaar and voter identification cards. Here, there are lessons India can take from other countries such as the US, said the report. For example, in the US, if one resides abroad, he or she can still cast their vote through the website FVAP.gov. Forms can be signed and mailed to the local elections office in advance, or the choice of electronic ballot available online or a paper mail-in ballot is also available, in what is called an absentee voting process, the SBI note pointed out. Talking of women participation, a recent data highlighted that women are likely to vote more than men in this year’s elections, which will surely make a difference. In fact, the gender gap in terms of votes in the last general elections, was lowest since independence. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/2019-lok-sabha-polls-women-participation-may-be-higher-than-men-says-report/articleshow/68264184.cms">Women participation may be higher than men in India's upcoming elections, says report</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/activists-demand-reservation-for-women-in-all-political-parties/articleshow/68301996.cms">India should bar political parties with low women representation, demands activist group</a>

A whopping 91% of urban migrants in India are not registered as voters: Study

Next time you take a trip to ‘experience’ the countryside or buy handicraft items to empower the poor artisans from rural <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>, you should be aware of the fact that the equation is bound to change someday. Very soon, the urban <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> might depend on the rural <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> to rejuvenate the deficient <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword>. And no, we ain’t kidding this time. 
	 

	For one, corporate houses are creating specific advertisements for rural areas, which are close to their cultural identity, as against the blanket ads found in urban <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> and more specifically, in metros and cosmopolitan cities. In fact, villages, with their developmental index rising steadily, are giving tier II cities a run for their money as prospective business and industrial hubs. And they have also become the most unexpected and unusual contenders on the consumer index.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	It is a slow yet steady trend that has been gaining ground over the past few years. According to a CRISIL report, rural <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> spent Rs 3,750 billion ($67,144 million), as against Rs 2,994 billion ($53,607 million) spent by the urban population between 2009-10 and 2011-2012. The data was collated by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), to be later used by CRISIL in its report. The NSSO survey also noted that per capita rural consumption grew 19% annually while the urbanites had to be content with 17% growth per year.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	No wonder you see a watch company leveraging the Kumbh Mela for its marketing strategy or a toothpaste company using popular cultural forms such as puppetry and traditional music for business promotion. The urban populace may perceive it as nostalgia but for rural consumers, it means relating to a product in their own language and as per their cultural parameters. It is more like bringing the companies to their doorsteps and making them go down on their knees because rural <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> has the buying power. After all, the power of buying dictates everything else, even the way a company creates or changes its marketing policies.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	The headway urban <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> had made over the past few decades in overtaking the rural segment in terms of earnings and spending has changed significantly from the beginning of the current decade. <o:p></o:p>

	 

	According to experts, the current growth in rural consumption is due to a number of reasons. One of the key factors is the rise in non-farm job opportunities which were beyond the purview of the market-based economy that dominated the agrarian society’s equations till now. To sustain this rural boom, it is critical to substitute short-term income-boosters (government-backed poverty eradication and self-reliance programmes) with empowering job opportunities.<o:p></o:p>

	 
 <keyword id="48085" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Credit-Suisse">Credit Suisse</keyword> Research Institute’s Emerging Consumer Survey (2014) also points out that <keyword id="6355185" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="rural-india">rural India</keyword> is riding other modes of income generation to come to the forefront of the country’s overall developmental index. As per the report, the ‘rural rising’ is taking place in the world’s two most ancient countries, India and China, who happen to be neighbours and the world’s biggest emerging economies, with future markets focusing on them. What’s more, both countries live in their villages, battling issues such as migration from rural to urban areas in search of opportunities, jobs and education.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	The popular image of an Indian village is that of one without electricity, safe drinking water and hygienic conditions. But things have changed in most of the villages, thanks to the government’s aggressive programmes to reduce poverty.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	The reports also point out that the developmental index has actually tilted in favour of rural areas, which have been showing great appetite for consumer products. When asked whether they would spend more money on what’s considered luxury in their context, such as bottled water or holidays or the next smartphone, majority of the rural Indians said they certainly would not mind spending on these. The respondents also said that all the 14 ‘luxury’ items shortlisted by the survey would be on their purchase list in the years to come. <o:p></o:p>

	 

	The access media has provided to these items considered ‘essential’ is something phenomenal despite their limited reach. For example, the number of people who owned TV sets increased to 42% in 2009-10 as against 26% just five years earlier. Clearly, the consumption pattern in rural <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> is shifting from necessities to discretionary goods. <o:p></o:p>

	 

	Needless to say, product-line companies are changing strategies accordingly. Earlier, urban <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> was high on their marketing budget – as much as 70% of the budget was reserved for marketing in urban areas and a mere 30% for rural markets. But the equation has turned topsy-turvy now. Today, major companies reserve 55% for urban areas and about 45% for rural areas.<o:p></o:p>

	 

	The great Indian equalisation has begun. And rural <st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place> is getting the big slice of this pie!<o:p></o:p>

Rural Rising In India: Will Villages Dominate The Consumer Market?

Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> today said residents and city leadership should play the major role in deciding how their city will grow and not private property developers, as he unveiled three mega flagship urban schemes aimed at developing cities as engines of growth. Urbanisation should be viewed as an opportunity and urban centres should be viewed as growth engines, he said launching the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and <keyword id="2130852" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Urban-transformation">Urban Transformation</keyword> (AMRUT), <keyword id="2738020" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Smart-Cities-Mission">Smart Cities Mission</keyword>, and <keyword id="2481158" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Housing-for-All">Housing for All</keyword> (Urban) here. 

	"Under these schemes we can go ahead and we can do it together (Centre and state). India is rapidly urbanising. Every year Hindustan gives birth to a small country," he said. 
 

	While 500 cities will be developed under AMRUT scheme, there would be 100 Smart Cities over five years and Housing for All aims construction of 2 crore houses in urban areas in the next seven years. 
 

	Smart City will be selected through a competition among cities while 500 cities are being identified under AMRUT. 
 

	Referring to Smart City, Modi said, "For the first time in India, a challenge was being floated, in which the citizens of urban India could contribute in the formulation of development visions of their cities." 
 

	Those cities which were able to competitively meet the required parameters would be developed as smart cities. 
 

	"This competitive mechanism would end the top-down approach, and lead to people-centric urban development," he said. 
 

	"These urban development schemes were not prepared by the Government alone, but involved perhaps the biggest consultation exercise ever taken by the Union Government, involving all stakeholders and examining global best practices," he said. 
 

	Stressing that all schemes for urban development should move forward based on people's participation, Modi said, "There is a lack of holistic vision about urban planning, and expansion is driven not by the administrators of a city, but by property developers. 
 

	"Through AMRUT, the aim of the Government is to give cities themselves the chance to plan their future growth," he said. 
 

	The Prime Minister said the people assembled for the function here had on them the collective responsibility for better quality of life for 40 percent of India's population that either lived in cities, or were dependent on cities for their livelihood. 
 

	The Prime Minister stressed that aspirations of migrants from rural areas, and slum dwellers, should be balanced with the changing global environment and said ensuring a good life for them is the government's responsibility. 
 

	Giving a simple vision of a smart city, he said it is one which was a step or two ahead of people's aspirations. 
 

	"There should be facility for walk-to-work because today a person spends maximum time in travelling to office and gets very little time to work," Modi said. 
 

	Besides transportation, technology also plays a key role and there should also be provision for energy efficiency, and cycling etc. 
 

	Lamenting the state of affairs in urban areas, he said, "If this had been done 25-30 years ago, it would have led to good results today, but better late than never. Schemes which had a clear vision and were people-centric, were the need of the hour." 
 

	Seeking replication of best practices from across the country, the Prime Minister mentioned Hyderabad's tax collection system, Karnataka's efforts for solid waste management, and Chhattisgarh's work to eliminate open defecation. 
 

	Chhattisgarh, which is fighting Maoist menace, is making an all out effort to make the state free from open defecation, he said. 
 

	Mentioning the challenge of rising population, he said all possible avenues should be explored to find the resources for urban development. 
 

	Highlighting the importance of the housing scheme, the Prime Minister observed that, "A house was a turning point in the lives of poor, which leads towards a better life and the government's effort was to not just provide a house, but to provide the right environment to live life to the fullest." 
 

	Citing the existing housing shortage of 2 crore units, he said India would complete 75 years of Independence in 2022, and by then, it was "our responsibility to provide a house for everyone". 
 

	Noting that public representatives and leaders are remembered by the good work they did in their terms, the Prime Minister asked urban leaders to contribute to doing something for the good of the people. 
 

	If a person gets an opportunity and does something worthwhile, it will be remembered even after 50 years, he said. 
 

	Asking chairpersons of municipalities and mayors of urban local bodies to do some good work in their terms, Modi said, "You can show your grandson whether it is any building or whatever you have done 50 years ago. The success parameter of life is that what you have done for the people." 
 

	The Prime Minister appreciated people for their interest and work in the Swachh Bharat initiative, as well as the positive role played by media in generating awareness. 
 

	"All media men are doing it on their own and media role in Swachh Bharat campaign will always be remembered for this, he said. 
 

	On the rural and urban divide, the Prime Minister said urban and rural development in the country should be complimentary. 
 

	"One way of doing this was to ensure waste water management in urban areas, so that the treated water could be returned to rural areas for irrigation. Similarly solid waste management could generate compost which could act as organic fertiliser for the surrounding rural areas," he said. 
 

	Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy CM Nirmal Kumar Singh, mayors, chairpersons of urban local bodies and senior officials from all states and UTs have attended the mega event at the Vigyan Bhawan. 
 

	On the occasion, the Prime Minister released logos, and taglines for AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission; and guidelines for AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission and Housing for All (Urban). 
 

	The Prime Minister also visited an exhibition on best practices in urban development. 
	 
	(image credits: indiatimes)

Citizens will plan their city: Narendra Modi on Smart city
project

New Delhi, Nov 23 () An average household medical expenditure, excluding childbirth, during hospitalisation at private hospitals was seven times more expensive than that of government hospitals in India during July 2017-June 2018, showed a survey by National Statistical Office (NSO) on Saturday.
"In government/public hospitals, the expenditure was about Rs 4,452 (about Rs 4,290 in rural and Rs 4,837 in urban areas). In private hospitals, the expenditure was about Rs 31,845 (about Rs 27,347 in rural and Rs 38,822 in urban areas)," stated NSO's 75th round of National Sample Survey (NSS) on Household Social Consumption related to Health during the period July 2017 to June 2018.
The average medical expenditure per hospitalisation case was about Rs 16,676 in rural, Rs 26,475 in urban India, it added.
The present survey included data from over 1.13 lakh households. Prior to this, there have been three such surveys carried out in 1995-96, 2004 and 2014.
The data showed that government/public hospitals accounted for 42 per cent of the in-patient hospitalisation (excluding childbirth). Private hospitals accounted for 55 per cent and charitable/trust/NGO-run hospitals accounted for 2.7 per cent of such cases. 
The report said the average expenditure per hospital childbirth was about Rs 2,404 in rural India, and Rs 3,106 in urban areas for government hospitals. It was about Rs 20,788 in rural and Rs 29,105 in urban for private hospitals, it added.
Surgery was done in about 28 per cent of hospital childbirths in India, as per the report. 
Interestingly, only about 17 per cent of childbirths in government hospitals were surgery cases, of which over 92 per cent were provided free.
In private hospitals, about 55 per cent of childbirths were surgery cases and only 1 per cent was provided free. SR KKS MKJ

Avg medical expenditure at pvt hospitals seven-times higher than govt ones: Report

<ul><li>The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation has released employment data, projecting the unemployment rate at 6.1% in 2017-18. </li><li>Joblessness among the educated urban workforce was higher that the uneducated among men and women. </li><li>Unemployment rate among young urban jobseekers has been on the rise for three quarters now — which stood at 23.7% in the December quarter of 2018.</li></ul>As the Modi government enters its second term, unemployment remains the biggest challenge in India. The latest employment survey has highlighted worrying trends in the job market. The <a href="https://www.livemint.com/politics/policy/unemployment-on-the-rise-among-urban-youth-finds-survey-1559500104301.html">Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) </a>put out by the National Statistic Office(NSO) has shown that the unemployment rate among young urban jobseekers has been on the rise for three quarters now — which stood at 23.7% in the December quarter of 2018. According to the figures released by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPD), the <keyword id="1958282" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="unemployment-rate-in-India">unemployment rate in India</keyword> hit 6.1% — proving the disputed NSSO survey to be statistically correct. On an average, Indian students spend nearly 11 years in formal education. However, the report noted that the country projected higher unemployment rate as the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-unemployment-rate-stands-at-13-2-among-graduates-and-post-graduates-cmie/articleshow/68517075.cms">education level increases</a>. While unemployment stood at 2.1% among the illiterate urban men, nearly 9.2% of the men with secondary education were unemployed, the report added. Moving to the female unemployment rate, the unemployment among the educated women — secondary or higher education — hit <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/its-now-official-joblessness-rises-with-education-level/articleshow/69615943.cms">20% in 2017-18</a>. Overall, the unemployment among urban men stood at 7.8%, while the joblessness was recorded as 5.7% among women. The official release of the report has reopened the debate on India’s job crisis. The National Sample Survey Office(NSSO) job survey for 2017-18 revealed that the unemployment rate in India is on a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/unemployment-in-india-is-at-its-highest-in-45-years-says-an-indian-daily-citing-an-undisclosed-jobs-survey/articleshow/67769020.cms">45-year high</a>. The Finance Ministry released an official statement that said "There can be nothing farther away from the truth than saying that unemployment in India is at a 45 year low," India Today reported. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-unemployment-rate-stands-at-13-2-among-graduates-and-post-graduates-cmie/articleshow/68517075.cms">Fewer jobs for better educated: India’s unemployment rate stands at 13.2% among the highly educated segment</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/as-unemployment-swells-in-india-educated-millennials-favour-government-jobs/articleshow/69267943.cms">As unemployment swells in India, educated millennials favour government jobs</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/may-day-2019-indias-labour-day-comes-at-the-cost-of-570000-job-losses-and-297-deaths/articleshow/69129435.cms">May Day 2019: India’s labour day comes at the cost of 570,000 job losses and 297 deaths</a>

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