“From Cities to Hometowns: The Socioeconomic Realities of Return Migration in Karnataka"

Abstract

Migration patterns are often influenced by economic, social and cultural factors, shaping the choices of both migrants and their families. This research is conducted in the 2 Class-IV towns of Dharwad district namely Alnawar and Kundgol and the data is collected through structured interview schedule. Based on Multi-stage random sampling method the sample size is limited to 158. This study examines the perspectives of both migrants and household heads regarding return migration in Karnataka. Findings indicate that 59.41% of household heads preferred male migrants to return hometo manage ancestral property, while 30.69% opposed their return due to limited economic opportunities. In contrast, 75.44% were unwilling for female migrants to return, reinforcing traditional beliefs that married women belong to their husband’s household. In total, 75.95% of migrants were unwilling to return, citing economic limitations, career aspirations, and social commitments. Meanwhile, 12.03% expressed a desire to return, primarily for emotional or property-related reasons, while 8.86% remained undecided, consisting mostly of students or recent migrants. These findings highlight the complex interplay of tradition, economic security and personal aspirations in shaping return migration trends.