Final answer:
The assertion that compact reconstituted villages with relatively high standards of living exist in large South Asian cities is false. The rural-to-urban migration has led to the development of extensive slums, and despite economic growth in some sectors, there is a stark wealth gap and high poverty levels in these urban areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that even within the large and populous cities of South Asia, many people live in compact, reconstituted villages where standards of living can be relatively high is false. The rapid rural-to-urban shift in South Asia has led to the expansion of urban areas and the formation of sprawling slums rather than well-off reconstituted villages. While there are urban elites and a rising middle class in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Dhaka, there is a significant contrast to the numerous people who live in poverty. Mumbai, a leading city with varied economic activities, also houses one of the largest slums in Asia, signifying the wide wealth gap.
In high populated areas like Bangladesh, the physiologic density is extremely high, which complicates the living conditions of many city inhabitants. Moreover, urban centers struggle with problems related to infrastructure, such as congestion and pollution due to increased vehicle ownership among the middle class. Though there are pockets of prosperity within these urban landscapes, many South Asians migrate to cities ending up in slums with low standards of living, highlighting the disparities present in these societies.