ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the impact on reintegration of permanent, temporary and return migration in south India, backed by fieldwork carried out with return migrants who have been working in the construction sector in the Gulf, Singapore and Malaysia. Return is often not the final stage in the migration process of Indian construction workers abroad. Migration is a continuum and the process can endure a whole working life for some migrants. The government of India and state governments, especially those of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh should make more efforts to stop the exploitation and extortion of migrant workers. As long as malpractices keep on taking place in Gulf and South-East Asia migration, a better solution for underemployment in peripheral communities in south India could be migration to urban areas within India. Finally, the chapter reviews the existing policies for return migrants with some concluding remarks and recommendations.
