Question
Discuss the features of different types of rural settlements. What are the factors responsible for the settlement patterns in different physical environments?
Solution
The different types of rural settlements with features are discussed below :
(1)Clustered or Nucleated Settlements :
(i) It is a compact or closely built up area of houses.
(ii) In this type of village the general living ares is distinct and separated from the surrounding farms and pastures.
(2)Semiclustered Settlements :
(i) These settlements may result from tendency of clustering in a restricted area of dispersed settlements
(ii) One or more sections of the village society choose or is forced to live a little away from the main cluster.
(3)Hamleted Settlements :
(i)These are fragmented into several units physically separated from each other bearing a common name.
(ii) These units are locally known as Panna, Para, Palli, Purva, Nagla, Dhani etc.
(4)Dispersed Settlements :
(i) These are found in the forms of isolated huts or hamle in remote jungles or on small hills with farms or pastures on the slopes.
(ii) These are caused by extremely fragmented nature of the terrain and land reasource base of habitable areas
Factors responsible for the types of rural settlements :
(a) Physical factors : These include nature of terrain, altitude, climate and availability of water.
(
b) Cultural factors and ethnic factors : Caste, tribal structure and religion.
b) Cultural factors and ethnic factors : Caste, tribal structure and religion.
(c) Security factors includes defence against invasion, dacoits, animals etc.
