Rural-urban migration in developing countries can be prevented by

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks how to prevent rural-urban migration, which is the movement of people from villages to cities. To answer, we need to ask why people migrate in the first place.

Step 2: Explain the concept Migration is driven by push factors (what makes people leave rural areas) and pull factors (what attracts them to cities).

• Push factors: lack of electricity, poor roads, few hospitals, few schools, limited jobs, low income from farming.
• Pull factors: jobs, good schools, hospitals, pipe-borne water, electricity, entertainment, and better living standards in cities.

To reduce migration, the gap between rural and urban areas must be narrowed. This means giving rural dwellers the same opportunities and amenities they would otherwise travel to the city to find.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Increasing the number of years in school: This does not address the push or pull factors. Educated youths often leave the village to look for white-collar jobs, so it could even increase migration.
• B. Putting up more factories in urban areas: This creates more jobs in the cities, which strengthens the pull factor and encourages more migration.
• C. Having boarding schools in rural areas: This helps education a little, but it does not tackle jobs, health, electricity, or water. It is too narrow a solution.
• D. Even distribution of facilities in both regions: Jobs, schools, hospitals, water, electricity, and roads would be available in both places. People would no longer need to move to the city to find a better life. This removes both the push and pull factors.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is D, even distribution of facilities in both regions.

Exam tip: In questions about preventing or reducing rural-urban migration, look for the option about balanced development, such as "rural development" or "providing amenities in rural areas." Be wary of options that add more opportunities to the cities, as these make the problem worse.