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Penulis: Lilis Sukasi
Prodi: Akuntasi Syariah
Opini-- Urbanization, the migration of people from rural areas to urban centers, has become an integral part of modern economic development. While it brings positive impacts such as job opportunities and economic growth in urban areas, urbanization also has negative consequences, especially for rural communities. One of the most significant impacts is the widening economic gap between rural and urban areas.
In many developing countries, including Indonesia, rural areas are often considered the backbone of food production and the foundation of the national economy. Ironically, rural communities often face limited access to education, healthcare services, technology, and basic infrastructure. Urbanization exacerbates this situation as the productive workforce from rural areas migrates to the cities. As a result, villages lose their best human resources, leaving behind an aging population that is often less productive.
Urbanization also highlights inequalities in access to education. Many rural residents lack access to quality education, which prevents them from competing in the modern job market. Inadequate education also leads to low levels of innovation in rural areas, hindering the development of local businesses. Children from rural families often have to travel long distances to access better education, or they are forced to drop out of school due to economic constraints. This situation creates a vicious cycle of poverty that is difficult to break.
Healthcare facilities in rural areas are often lagging behind those in cities, both in terms of quality, quantity, and accessibility. This makes it difficult for rural communities to receive optimal medical care, which in turn negatively impacts their health and productivity. The lack of healthcare facilities such as hospitals, health centers, or trained medical personnel affects the rural population’s ability to maintain both preventive and curative health. As a result, a significant amount of time and money is spent seeking treatment in the cities, adding to the economic burden. Furthermore, poor health conditions can hinder economic development in rural areas due to the low quality of the productive human resources.
Technological gaps between rural and urban areas can significantly affect the rural economy. In rural areas, limited access to modern technologies, such as fast internet, digital devices, and advanced agricultural technologies, hampers productivity and innovation. This makes the rural economy tend to stagnate, remaining dependent on traditional, less efficient businesses. In contrast, cities have better access to technology, which drives the growth of the industrial, trade, and service sectors. As a result, this technological disparity worsens the economic gap between rural and urban areas, with rural areas often lagging in terms of competitiveness and broader economic opportunities.
Additionally, this migration creates a stark income inequality. Cities offer high-paying jobs in the industrial and service sectors, while rural areas remain dependent on agriculture, which is often economically unstable. The rural dependence on agriculture makes them vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations and climate change, making it difficult for rural incomes to grow significantly.
Another impact of urbanization is the erosion of communal values, such as gotong royong (mutual cooperation), which are characteristic of rural life. As more rural residents leave their hometowns, the sense of solidarity and community in rural areas begins to fade. Moreover, remittances sent by city workers to their families in rural areas are often used for consumption rather than productive investments.
So, what solutions can help reduce this economic gap? One step that can be taken is to accelerate infrastructure development in rural areas, such as roads, electricity, and internet access. The government also needs to provide skills training to rural communities so they can compete in the modern job market, both in rural and urban areas.
To address the gap between rural and urban areas in education, healthcare, and technology in the economy, solutions involving improved infrastructure and access can be implemented. In education, it is important to improve school facilities and infrastructure, as well as utilize technology to expand access to learning, such as distance education and teacher training. In healthcare, the development of better healthcare facilities in rural areas, combined with the use of telemedicine for remote consultations, can enhance rural communities' access to quality healthcare services.
Meanwhile, in the economy, accelerating the development of digital infrastructure, such as better internet networks, will open opportunities for rural communities to access global markets and advanced agricultural technology. Training related to technology use to increase business productivity, such as e-commerce and the digitalization of the agricultural sector, is also crucial to drive rural economic development and reduce the gap with urban areas. With these solutions, rural areas can develop better, improve their quality of life, and enhance their competitiveness.
Urbanization is an inevitable phenomenon, but its impact on the economic gap between rural and urban areas can be minimized. The government, communities, and the private sector must work together to create an inclusive development ecosystem so that rural areas are not left behind in the wave of modernization. When rural areas become more prosperous, the economic gap can be reduced, and the sustainability of national development can be more assured.
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