The Village Cluster Development Model

Some points I agree with some points I don't but overall this is a good way forward: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/developing-model-village-clusters/article6420016.ece

This statement I'm uncomfortable with:

"It should be clearly understood that it is an iron law of economics (without a single exception) that as countries get richer, the share of agriculture in GDP, employment and land use declines over time. If India aims at achieving affluence over the coming decades, it must be prepared for massive urbanisation. "

... but its a statement that gets repeated by most economists - can't there be development without urbanization. With the connectivity we have today and return to the land movements happening can't one envisage a developed world without overburdened cities and urban population clusters?
Any thoughts?
Compare and contrast with the article mentioned yesterday: 

Polak, Paul “How to Solve India's Poverty Crisis”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-polak/how-to-solve-indias-pover_b_4086236.html

 

And his recommendations to combat poverty in India and the world and find opportunities in the problems of extreme (rural and urban but esp. the former) poverty:

• a billion poor farmers around the world lack access to affordable income-generating tools & insurance to face financial challenges.
• one billion people in the world go hungry on any given night, and an equal number lack access to affordable nutritious foods 
• billion people live in rudimentary shelters ...ready market for $100 to $300 houses with market and collateral value that could start them on the road to the middle class
• one billion people have neither latrines nor toilets. 
• one billion people have no access to electricity.
• One billion or more don't have access to decent, affordable schools.
• one billion people lack affordable and professional health services. 
• one billion use cooking and heating methods that make them sick and pollute the air.