Kerala Declared First Indian State Free from Extreme Poverty

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan officially announced on November 1, 2025, that the state has eradicated extreme poverty, marking it as the first Indian state to achieve this significant milestone. The declaration was made during a special session of the Assembly, coinciding with 'Kerala Piravi' or the state's formation day, as reported by The Hindu.

This historic announcement follows a comprehensive four-year-long initiative known as the Extreme Poverty Alleviation Project (EPEP). The project, launched in 2021, aimed to identify and uplift the most vulnerable families who had fallen outside existing welfare nets, according to onmanorama.

The government's assertion is that this achievement is the culmination of sustained welfare efforts and a testament to Kerala's unique development model. Chief Minister Vijayan emphasized that the state serves as a "laboratory for various welfare activities" and hopes its success will inspire other states.

However, the declaration was met with skepticism and strong criticism from the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), who boycotted the Assembly session. Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan dismissed the claim as a "hollow proclamation" and a "sham," questioning the timing and criteria used, as reported by The New Indian Express.

The state's definition of extreme poverty encompassed the absence of four essential needs: food, safe housing, basic income, and health. This multi-dimensional approach aligns with the NITI Aayog's 2023 Multidimensional Poverty Index, which already showed Kerala with the lowest poverty rate in India at 0.55%, according to India News.

The Extreme Poverty Eradication Project involved a meticulous process of identifying 64,006 families across 1,032 local bodies, comprising 103,099 individuals, as extremely poor. Micro-plans were then tailored for each family to address their specific deprivations, as detailed by LSGD Kerala.

With an investment exceeding ₹1,000 crore, the government implemented a three-pronged strategy focusing on immediate entitlements, infrastructure support, and livelihood/health assistance. This included providing essential documents, housing, food security, and medical care, Catholic Connect reported.

• Historical Context and the Kerala Model: Kerala's journey to this milestone is rooted in its distinctive "Kerala Model" of development, characterized by strong social indicators despite lower per capita income compared to other states. Academic literature highlights its focus on high literacy, life expectancy, healthcare access, and low infant mortality, as noted by Entri. Historically, a 1975 study for the UN revealed that Kerala once had one of the highest proportions of people below the poverty line in India, with over 90% in rural areas, according to unITED NEWS OF INDIA.

• Defining and Measuring Extreme Poverty: While the World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $2.15 per day (in 2021 prices), Kerala adopted a broader, multidimensional definition. The state identified extreme poverty based on the absence of food, safe housing, basic income, and health, a methodology that aligns with the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) approach. NITI Aayog's 2023 report indicated Kerala's multidimensional poverty rate was as low as 0.55% or 0.48%, the lowest in the country.

• The Extreme Poverty Alleviation Project (EPEP): Launched in 2021, the EPEP (also known as Athidaridrya Nirmarjana Project) aimed to identify and support those outside existing welfare systems. The project involved extensive community participation, led by local governments and supported by Kudumbashree workers, ASHA, and anganwadi workers, to identify 64,006 families (103,099 individuals) as extremely poor. Individual micro-plans were then developed for each family, addressing their specific needs.

• Key Interventions and Impact: The EPEP implemented a comprehensive strategy, providing quick entitlements like Aadhaar, ration cards, and social security pensions to 21,263 families. It also focused on infrastructure support, with over 5,400 new homes built, 5,522 homes repaired, and land allotted to 2,713 landless families. Livelihood support, including assistance for self-employment and daily food provisions for thousands of families, was also a crucial component, as reported by The Times of India.

• Political Reactions and Debate: The Opposition UDF vehemently criticized the declaration, calling it a "fraud" and a "scripted publicity show" ahead of local body elections, according to gujaratsamachar English. Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan questioned the necessity of a special Assembly session for an announcement whose details were already public. Chief Minister Vijayan, however, defended the timing, stating that the eradication of extreme poverty was a key promise from the 2021 elections and a decision taken in the first cabinet meeting of the LDF government.

• Future Outlook and Challenges: While declaring the state free from extreme poverty, Chief Minister Vijayan emphasized that this is "not the end but the beginning," pledging to ensure that extreme poverty does not resurface. However, critics, including Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha functionaries, argue that the declaration might mask an unequal reality, pointing to significant poverty among specific communities like fishermen and informal workers, as highlighted by The Quint. The UN's Sustainable Development Goals aim to eradicate extreme poverty globally by 2030, with Kerala's achievement setting a precedent for other regions.