Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is poised to make history by officially becoming India’s first state to eradicate extreme poverty, and the second in the world after China to achieve this remarkable milestone. The announcement will be made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on November 1 at 5 PM at the Trivandrum Central Stadium, according to a joint press briefing by Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh and Education Minister V. Sivankutty.
The landmark event will witness the participation of all state ministers, with the Leader of the Opposition also invited. Renowned film personalities, including MP Kamal Haasan, Mammootty, and Mohanlal, will be chief guests, and cultural performances and celebrations are scheduled before and after the announcement. A special organizing committee, chaired by Minister Sivankutty, has been formed to ensure the event’s success, with parallel celebrations planned across all local self-government institutions in Kerala.
According to NITI Aayog data, Kerala already had the lowest poverty rate in India in 2021, with only 0.7% of the population classified as extremely poor. Upon taking office in 2021, the Left Democratic Front government prioritized lifting this marginalized population. Through scientific and comprehensive surveys, 64,006 extremely poor families were identified across the state, based on access to food, healthcare, livelihood, and housing.
To ensure targeted support, a detailed micro-plan was created for each family, integrating all available government services, assistance programs, and special initiatives. The project involved government departments, local self-governments, volunteers, and public participation, with a social audit already completed.
Significantly, the initiative reached even the most marginalized people, including those without voter registration, ration cards, or Aadhaar cards, empowering them to live dignified lives. Of the identified families, 4,421 (mostly single-member households) have passed away, and 261 nomadic families could not be included as most have migrated to other states; arrangements are in place to support them if they return. Additionally, 47 families with members registered in multiple local bodies were consolidated under unified micro-plans.
Excluding these cases, 59,277 families are now officially free from extreme poverty. Kerala will mark this historic achievement on November 1, establishing itself as a global model for poverty eradication, said Minister M.B. Rajesh.
