Kerala Becomes India’s First State to Declare Itself Free from Extreme Poverty

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declares the state free from extreme poverty, highlighting the four-year Extreme Poverty Alleviation Project, providing food, health, housing, livelihood, and education support to over one lakh individuals, setting a model for other Indian states.

New Delhi: On November 1, 2025, on the occasion of Kerala's foundation day, "Kerala Piravi," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made the historic announcement that Kerala is now a state free of extreme poverty.

This achievement makes Kerala the first state in India to officially make this declaration. However, the opposition UDF boycotted the special session, calling it mere election propaganda. Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan called it an "empty manifesto."

Details of the Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP)

Chief Minister Vijayan explained that four years of hard work and planning were behind this announcement. The Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP) was launched in 2021 during the first cabinet meeting of the current LDF government.

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He clarified that it was not election propaganda but a genuine initiative. Under the project, extremely poor families were identified through data collection and public participation at the local level.

Gram Panchayats, Kusumbhashree workers, volunteers, and officials played an active role in this. A total of 103,099 people from 64,006 families were classified as living in extreme poverty.

Food security, health, housing, and income were considered as the main criteria.

Various benefits and facilities for the poor

In the first phase of EPEP, 21,263 people were provided with basic documents such as ration cards and Aadhaar cards. Regular food supply was ensured for 20,648 families. Health services included medicines, vaccinations, palliative care, and organ transplants.

• 4,677 families were provided houses under the LIFE Mission.
• 2,713 families were given land and houses.
• 4,394 families were provided livelihood support.
• 35,041 families were included in the MGNREGS.
• 5,583 children were provided special education and free travel facilities.
• 331 students received scholarships.
• 428 single-member families were relocated to safe shelters.

Global Context of Kerala's Achievements

Chief Minister Vijayan, citing United Nations and academic reports from the 1970s, explained that at that time, Kerala struggled with problems such as poverty and high population rates. Subsequently, through continuous reforms in health, education, and land, Kerala has now successfully eradicated extreme poverty.

He said that this scheme also reflects the state's success in the Sustainable Development Index and can serve as a model for other states. The government spent over ₹1,000 crore on this project.

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Continuous Monitoring and Future Strategy

The Chief Minister said that it is now important to ensure that those who have been freed from poverty do not return to extreme poverty. To this end, periodic monitoring and monitoring will continue.