60 Hungarian Settlements Are On The Verge Of Disappearing

According to the information provided by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (Központi Statisztikai Hivatal) there are around 60 settlements in the country that are on the verge of disappearing. Estimated population of each settlement is less than 200 inhabitants. 

After winning a Second Term in Hungary, Viktor Orbán has formed some major goals to improve existing rural development programme. He was determined to create such an environment in smaller towns and villages that would stimulate economic growth and bring higher standards of living to these regions. Fazekas Sándor, Minister of the Rural Development, has mentioned numerous times that Hungary must be able to come up with the right policy for development of the countryside, in order to guarantee sustainable growth of the rural areas. This policy must include major improvements in efficiency of the agricultural sector, to make it the key priority.

There is a clear and obvious connection between the data provided by the HSCO and Orbán’s political plans. The Census, which was conducted in 2011, revealed that there are 60 settlements with only 200 inhabitants. These utterly shocking results mean that density of the population has decreased by 30%between two decennial censuses.

First drastic changes, which were reflected in the official count of the Hungarian population, emerged during the turn of the nineteenth century. Rural residents, who lived below the poverty line, who did not own any properties or had lower rank in a social hierarchy, migrated to the largest cities; later, in 1960 -1970 the government followed a certain policy, which mainly focused on the urban development and put an emphasis on polishing living standards of the biggest Hungarian towns. The most affected parts of such administrative programme were small settlements hidden the quintessential Hungarian countryside.

In 1971 the Magyar government adopted a new Decision, 1007/1971. Based on this protocol ruling administration left more than 2000 villages and smaller settlements without any financial or social support; the government officials claimed that development of these areas would not be beneficial for the country and in the long-term would not bring any economic profit. In several villagesauthorities refused to grant building permits to the local citizens. A decade later, in 1980’s the government started a new campaign – village integration, however, still without any financial support. Therefore, this program did not help any of the deteriorated settlements.

The 1970’s census revealed that there were 113 villages with a population of less than 200 people; mostly due to the political decisions, in 1980’s this number grew to 189 settlements with the same level of the sparse population.

Some of the smaller towns and villages suffered from the severe rural decay. In 1971 in Libickozma, a village in Somogy County,lived 483 inhabitants; ten years later there were only 135 people. In Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, in Kishódos the difference is also striking – 362 citizens in 1970 and only 111 inhabitants by 1980.

In the early 1990’s a new Local Government Act was adopted. This Act stated that municipalities and their citizens could influence the fate of the town. However, despite all the attempts to improve situation in the rural areas, population rate of the countryside counties was still decreasing. Demographic and social structure of the villages and smaller settlements was already significantly distorted.

Information provided by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office shows that all the villages, which are currently in danger of vanishing, are predominantly located in the hill counties. Common features also include peripheral geographical position and challenging economical situation. Thepopulation rate in these villages has decreased by almost 50% since 1970. Mostly elderly population lives in these settlements. Even though back in 1970 there was equilibrium between the young and elderly citizens, currently there are three times more adults over the age of 60 than teenagers. In more than 40% of the households owners live alone, with no relatives.

Income level in the mentioned areas is very low. Only half of the 60 villages have their own local retail store, in others people have to travel to the nearest town in order to buy some essentials. Travelling seems to be another major issue – there is no proper public transport, only irregular bus services.

Due to the unfortunate financial circumstances,young population of these municipalities strives to pursue career and education in the bigger cities. Because of the migration process and a gradual increase in the death rate a lot of houses are alreadyleft abandoned.

Just imagine that only ten years from now sixty traditional Hungarian villages will disappear without a trace. Little settlements hidden in the forest green valleys of the tranquil Hungarian Hill Counties will be gone forever. According to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office development of the domestic tourism can help saving these steeped in history and tradition villages. Hopefully, these wild meadows will welcome thousands of excited tourists, looking for a serene vacation.

Photo: mocisblog.blogspot.com

Source: http://mno.hu/