Introduction to Rural Settlement

Imagine this: a human being, thousands of years ago, standing at the edge of a forest, scanning the land for food, water, and shelter. That moment—of choosing a place to live, however temporarily—was a turning point in human adaptation to the physical environment. And that turning point gave birth to what we call a settlement.

What is a Settlement?

In the simplest terms, a settlement is where human beings live. But it is much more than just a cluster of houses. It is man’s conscious decision to occupy and adapt to a particular portion of the Earth’s surface.

• Just like how fish adapt to water, and camels adapt to deserts—humans adapt by creating settlements.
• These settlements are not randomly located. Their site (i.e., the exact location) and growth are deeply shaped by natural and geographical factors.

Rural Settlements

Whenever you think of a rural settlement, imagine a village where people wake up with the sun, go to the fields, rear cattle, or maybe collect forest produce. These are the settlements closely tied to nature and primary economic activities—like farming, fishing, hunting, and pastoralism.

So technically:

Rural Settlements are those habitations where people are mostly engaged in primary economic activities.

Factors Influencing the Location and Development of Settlements

Let’s say you want to build a house from scratch. Where would you build it? On a floodplain? In the middle of a rocky mountain? Probably not. You’d look for:

• Water availability – for drinking, irrigation, and daily use.
• Fertile soil – for growing crops.
• Micro-climate – neither too hot, nor too cold.
• Accessibility – easy to reach or connect with.
• Elevation – not too high to make living tough, but not too low to risk floods.
• Natural resources – like forests (for fuel/timber) or minerals (for tools and trade).

These are universal criteria—used by ancient humans, and still relevant today when we plan a township or a smart city.

Classification of Settlements

Now comes the important classification—settlements are of two types:

A. Unstable Settlements
B. Stable Settlements

Let’s understand both.

A. Unstable Settlements: The Nomadic Way of Life

You may have heard of nomads—people who do not stay in one place permanently. Even today, about 1% of the world’s population leads such a lifestyle. Another 5% may not have a fixed, permanent house.

Characteristics:

• These people are mobile.
• Their economy is based on hunting, gathering, pastoralism, or transhumance (seasonal movement with livestock).
• Their dwellings are temporary and movable.

Examples from India:

• Gujjars and Bakarwals of Jammu & Kashmir
• Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

They build:

• Kothas – temporary residential shelters
• Bandis – cattle sheds

These communities move seasonally—uphill in summer, downhill in winter. Think of them like seasonal migrators, adapting to the terrain and climate.

Where are Unstable Settlements Found?

These are generally in harsh terrains:

• Mountains – difficult agriculture
• Deserts & semi-deserts – water scarcity
• Swampy lands – unsuitable for permanent structures
• Flood-prone areas – risk of destruction

So, such settlements are nature’s challenge to permanence.

B. Stable Settlements: The Permanent Villages

Now think of the typical Indian village—mud houses, thatched roofs, a common well, a temple, and fields around. These are stable rural settlements.

Characteristics:

• People live permanently in one place.
• They are engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, dairying, food gathering, etc.
• These settlements are rooted—economically, socially, and geographically.

India’s Reality:

Most of rural India comprises stable and permanent settlements.

This is because of:

• Favourable climate
• Fertile river valleys
• Water availability
• Tradition and culture

Such settlements represent a symphony between man and nature, with a rhythm that sustains life across generations.

Conclusion

So, to sum up:

• Settlement is humanity’s way of adapting to and organizing itself on Earth.
• Rural settlements are closely tied to nature and primary economic activities.
• Depending on permanence, settlements are either:
  • Unstable – mobile, temporary, nomadic
  • Stable – permanent, mostly agricultural