Kerala becomes first Indian state to eliminate extreme poverty
Kerala, already known for achieving 100% literacy, full electrification, and digital literacy, now adds another first to its record — becoming India’s only state to successfully eliminate extreme poverty through an inclusive, people-centered model of governance.
In a historic milestone, Kerala has officially become the first state in India to eradicate extreme poverty, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced today during a special session of the Legislative Assembly marking Kerala Piravi, the state’s formation day.
“Today’s Kerala Piravi marks a historic moment — we have succeeded in making Kerala the first Indian state without extreme poverty,” Vijayan declared, describing the achievement as a major step in realizing the vision of a Nava Kerala (New Kerala).
The Chief Minister said the initiative was launched following the first cabinet meeting of his current administration in 2021, as part of a key election promise to ensure no family in the state lives in destitution, India Today reports.
Kerala’s Extreme Poverty Eradication Program (EPEP) was implemented through local bodies across the state, focusing on targeted interventions rather than uniform policies. More than 64,000 vulnerable families were identified, and individual micro-plans were created to address their specific needs.
Under the program, the government invested over ₹1,000 crore to provide daily food for 20,648 families, medical assistance for 85,721 individuals, and housing for thousands.
Over 5,400 new homes were built or are under construction, 5,522 homes were repaired, and 2,713 landless families received land for building residences. In addition, 21,263 people obtained essential documents such as ration cards, Aadhaar, and pensions, while 4,394 families benefited from livelihood projects.
Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh said the program’s success was the result of “a transparent, participatory process that transcended political boundaries,” crediting cooperation between local bodies under both ruling and opposition coalitions.
However, the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) boycotted the special session, with Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan calling the government’s claim “pure fraud.”
In response, Vijayan dismissed the criticism, saying, “We only say what we can implement — and we have implemented what we said.”
Kerala, already known for achieving 100% literacy, full electrification, and digital literacy, now adds another first to its record — becoming India’s only state to successfully eliminate extreme poverty through an inclusive, people-centered model of governance.
