Thiruvananthapuram, India, Nov 2: Kerala has become the first Indian state to declare itself free from extreme poverty, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday, describing the milestone as the start of a “new era” for the southern state.
Announcing the declaration during a special session of the state assembly on the occasion of Kerala Piravi, which marks the state’s formation day, Vijayan said the achievement followed a four-year process under the Extreme Poverty Alleviation Project (EPEP) launched by his government in 2021.
“We only make promises we can fulfil, and we have fulfilled what we promised,” Vijayan said, adding that the government had spent over ₹1,000 crore ($120 million) to lift the state’s poorest families out of extreme deprivation.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government identified 1,03,099 individuals from 64,006 families as extremely poor, based on indicators such as food, health, housing, and income. Local bodies, Kudumbashree workers, volunteers, and officials participated in the identification process.
Under the EPEP initiative, the government issued essential documents to over 21,000 people, ensured regular food supplies for more than 20,000 families, provided houses to nearly 4,700 families under the LIFE Mission, and extended livelihood support to over 4,300 families. About 35,000 families were included in the national rural employment scheme, while 5,583 children received targeted educational assistance.
Vijayan said Kerala’s achievement reflected decades of social reform and progressive governance, crediting the state’s investments in education, health, and land reforms. “Kerala has made remarkable progress in the Sustainable Development Index envisioned by the United Nations by eradicating extreme poverty,” he said.
The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) boycotted the special session, calling the announcement a “hollow proclamation.” Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan questioned the propriety of convening a special assembly solely for the chief minister’s declaration.
Vijayan dismissed the criticism, saying the process was transparent and data-driven. “This proud achievement belongs to the entire people of Kerala. We are witnessing a historic moment,” he said.
The chief minister added that mechanisms would be put in place to ensure that no family slips back into extreme poverty, with periodic reviews to monitor progress.
