Kerala Becomes First Indian State to Eliminate Extreme Poverty, Says CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Marking a historic milestone, Kerala has officially declared itself the first state in India to have eradicated extreme poverty. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the state Assembly on Saturday, coinciding with the celebration of Kerala Piravi, the state's formation day.

Historic Declaration on Kerala Piravi Day

Speaking in a special session convened to mark the occasion, Chief Minister Vijayan said,
"Today's Kerala Piravi marks a place in history because we have succeeded in making Kerala the first Indian state without extreme poverty. This Legislative Assembly has witnessed many historic laws and policy declarations. The Assembly now meets at a moment that marks yet another milestone in the creation of a Nava Kerala."

He noted that eradicating extreme poverty was one of the top priorities taken up by the new cabinet after assuming office in 2021. "It was also the beginning of fulfilling one of the most important promises made to the people during the Legislative Assembly election," Vijayan added.

However, the announcement faced backlash from the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which dismissed the government's claim as "pure fraud" and staged a walkout from the session.

Kerala's Roadmap to Eradicating Extreme Poverty

Kerala, which already holds distinctions as India's first 100% literate and fully electrified state, launched a series of targeted programmes to uplift families living in extreme poverty.

With an investment exceeding ₹1,000 crore, the state implemented projects to ensure regular meals for 20,648 families, provided hot food to 2,210 households, and arranged medical care and medicines for 85,721 people. Thousands of citizens also benefited from housing initiatives.

More than 5,400 new houses have been built or are being constructed, 5,522 homes have been repaired, and 2,713 landless families have been given land for building their own homes. The government also issued essential documents like ration cards, Aadhaar, and pensions to over 21,000 people for the first time. In addition, 4,394 families received support to start sustainable livelihood projects.

"Instead of a one-size-fits-all policy, the government identified 64,006 vulnerable families and created specific micro-plans for each one's unique needs," the Chief Minister had said in a social media post.

Inclusive and Transparent Implementation

Local Self-Government Minister M. B. Rajesh explained that the Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP) was executed through a transparent, participatory framework involving grassroots-level planning.

He emphasized that the achievement resulted from collaborative efforts across political lines, with contributions from both LDF and UDF-led local administrations.

Slamming the opposition's criticism, Rajesh remarked, "It is not as if we suddenly decided one fine morning to announce that Kerala is free from extreme poverty."

Opposition Walkout and CM's Response

As the Assembly convened for the special session, Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan accused the Chief Minister of misleading the House, calling the statement "pure fraud" and a violation of Assembly norms.

"So, we cannot join in that and are completely boycotting the session," Satheesan declared, before the opposition members exited the Assembly shouting slogans.

Reacting sharply, Vijayan said the opposition's accusation reflected its own conduct. "We only say what we can implement. We have implemented what we had said. That is our reply to the opposition leader," he stated.