Reflections

A New Look
The New Landscape by Charles Correa – Book Review
In the New Landscape, Charles Correa attempts to look at the ever-increasing crisis of
cities in Third World countries. He argues that the abject poverty in the villages
creates distress migration to cities, and suggests that land redistribution in the villages,
establishment of market towns, and shifting of industry and major offices to middlesized
towns are some of the things that can be done to cope with the problem.
Distress migration is by the poorest of the poor. The question is, will an impoverished
Harijan from a village really get a piece of land to cultivate, as suggested in Correa's
redistribution of land? Will he get a place to sell his produce in the new market towns?
Will he get a job in industries or offices if they are shifted to smaller towns? And will
his skills be of any use in industry?
The essence of the problem is poverty. Distress migration stems from it and
aggravates the problem, but schemes of growth centres, public transport systems and
shifting of industry are not going to make much impact unless poverty is dealt with.
Take the example of the Green Revolution. Who benefitted? The rich farmers. Yes,
we produce more food, but the poor can't afford to buy it. Not only do they lack the
purchasing power, they simply do not have the skills and opportunities to acquire it in
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