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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday announced that the state has become the first in India to eradicate extreme poverty, marking a historic milestone coinciding with Kerala Piravi Day, which celebrates the state’s formation 69 years ago. Addressing the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the achievement fulfilled a key promise made during the 2021 state elections and reflected Kerala’s long-standing commitment to inclusive development. The eradication of extreme poverty, he said, was a major decision taken in the first cabinet meeting of his current government. The identification of the poorest families began two months later through a statewide participatory process, involving local bodies, Kudumbashree workers, and volunteers under the guidance of the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA). After extensive surveys and community reviews, 64,006 families comprising 1,03,099 individuals across 1,032 local bodies were identified as extremely poor. “Food, health, housing, and income were the main factors of distress considered,” Vijayan said, adding that micro-plans were drawn up for each family. Over ₹1,000 crore has been spent so far, with special budget allocations of ₹50 crore each for 2023–24 and 2024–25, and ₹60 crore for 2025–26. Under the initiative, 4,677 families received houses through Life Mission, while 2,713 families were allotted land and assistance to build homes. Thousands more received ration cards, healthcare, education support, and livelihood training. Citing NITI Aayog’s latest data, the Chief Minister said Kerala’s multidimensional poverty rate stands at just 0.48%, compared to the national average of 11.28%. “This is an extraordinary achievement,” Vijayan said, crediting decades of land reforms, social welfare policies, and public health and education initiatives. “Kerala’s journey from having one of the highest poverty rates to eliminating extreme poverty is a testament to our people’s collective will,” he added. -With Agency Inputs
