Kerala Declares Itself Extreme-Poverty Free, First in India

Kerala’s chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced in the state assembly on Saturday that the state has eradicated extreme poverty, claiming a first-in-India milestone on Kerala’s Formation Day. The announcement underscores the success of a four‑year strategy aimed at lifting the poorest residents out of extreme poverty.

Under the Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP), launched in 2021, the government identified 64,006 families and 1,03,099 individuals as extremely poor. The four-year effort focused on indicators such as access to food, health, housing, and livelihoods, with ground‑level surveys guiding beneficiary selection and support.

MB Rajesh, the local self-governments minister, explained the participatory approach and the parameters used to determine eligibility, stressing that even the smallest vulnerable groups were included and that the process was designed to be transparent and thorough.

Opposition leaders, including the Congress‑led United Democratic Front, termed the claim “pure fraud” and staged a walkout from the assembly, arguing that the unprecedented declaration should be verified through independent scrutiny.

Officials said welfare schemes linked to the poverty‑alleviation drive would take effect from Nov. 1, aligning with the state’s formation day program. A NITI Aayog study cited by the government suggested Kerala’s poverty rate was 0.7%, which framed the context for the declaration of eradication.

Analysts say the announcement could reshape political discourse in the state, though critics call for transparent, independent verification before the claim is treated as a nationwide benchmark.

Cover image source: Kerala CM showcases ‘extreme poverty eradication’ as crowning point of LDF government 🔗

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