Kerala Becomes India’s First State to Eradicate Extreme Poverty

Eradicate Extreme Poverty Latest News

• On Kerala Piravi Day or Kerala Day (November 1, 2025), Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared that Kerala has eradicated extreme poverty, making it the first Indian state to achieve this milestone. 
• The achievement follows a targeted four-year effort under the Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP) led by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
• This marks a significant development in India’s poverty alleviation journey, offering insights into localized, data-driven, participatory governance models, and aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty).

Understanding Extreme Poverty

• Global definition:
  • As per the World Bank’s (June 2025) revision, anyone living on less than $3 per day (2021 PPP) is considered to be in extreme poverty. Earlier, the benchmark was $2.15/day (2017 PPP).
  • The poverty line for:
    • Lower-middle-income countries – $4.20/day
    • Upper-middle-income countries – $8.30/day
• Difference between poverty and extreme poverty:
  • Those earning below $4.20 but above $3 are poor, not extremely poor.
  • Extreme poverty captures the most deprived segment in terms of basic human needs—food, shelter, health, and education.

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India’s Position in the Global Context

• World Bank estimates (2025):
  • 838 million people globally lived in extreme poverty in 2022 (using $3/day standard).
  • In India:
    • Extreme poverty declined from 16.2% (2011–12) to 2.3% (2022–23).
    • About 171 million people were lifted out of extreme poverty.
• Drivers of improvement: Rising employment and urbanization. For example, urban unemployment reduced to 6.6% (Q1 FY24/25) — lowest since 2017–18.
• Persistent challenges:
  • Youth unemployment: 13.3% (29% among graduates).
  • Gender disparity: Female employment rate 31%.
  • Informality: 77% of non-farm jobs and most farm jobs remain informal.
  • Critics argue that official poverty reduction estimates may not fully capture multidimensional deprivations.

Measuring Poverty in India – The Multidimensional Approach

• NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI):
  • It is based on Alkire-Foster methodology (Global MPI), and uses 12 indicators across three dimensions –
    • • Health: nutrition, child mortality, maternal health.
      • Education: years of schooling, school attendance.
      • Standard of living: housing, sanitation, assets, and cooking fuel.
• Kerala’s broader poverty reduction journey:
• • NITI Aayog’s 2021 MPI: Kerala’s poverty rate was 0.7% — lowest in India.
  • Poverty declined from 59.8% in the 1970s to near zero due to successive governments’ welfare policies in education, health, and social security.
  • However, Kerala’s extreme poverty identification method differed from the NITI Aayog’s MPI framework.

Kerala’s Model – Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP)

• Launch and implementation:
  • Announced in 2021, soon after the LDF government began its second term.
  • The Local Self-Government Department was the nodal agency.
  • Around 4 lakh personnel—officials, elected representatives, and volunteers—were trained.
• Identification process:
  • Initial identification: 1.18 lakh families.
  • After verification and migration checks: 59,000 families confirmed.
  • Criteria: Income, health, housing, and food insecurity.
• Key interventions:
  • Housing: 4,677 homeless families identified; 4,005 provided homes under Life Mission Scheme.
  • Food security: 20,648 families lacking stable food access were given meals by local bodies.
  • Essential documents and services: Under Avakasam Athivegam (Rights Fast) campaign, families were ensured access to – Aadhaar, voter ID, bank accounts, MGNREGS job cards, social pensions, electricity, and LPG connections.
• Institutional collaboration:
  • Local governance, community participation, and data verification ensured inclusivity.
  • Opposition parties also extended bipartisan support for implementation.

Significance of Kerala’s Achievement

• Kerala becomes the first Indian state to claim zero extreme poverty.
• Reflects success of localized planning, micro-level targeting, and welfare convergence.
• Reinforces Kerala’s legacy in human development, education, and social justice.

Critical Perspectives and Challenges

• Tribal representation concerns:
  • Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha alleged that only 5% of identified families were Scheduled Tribes, despite high deprivation among Paniya, Adiya, and Kattunaikkar communities in Wayanad and Attappady.
  • Criticism of survey methodology for not ensuring tribal-specific inclusion parameters.
• Labour and welfare gaps: ASHA workers criticized the government’s poverty claims, demanding better honorarium (₹223/day). The government responded by increasing their pay by ₹1,000/month.
• Sustainability challenge: LSGD is now planning Phase II to ensure beneficiaries do not relapse into poverty, focusing on long-term livelihood stability.

Way Forward

• Institutionalise micro-planning: Integrate micro-level data systems within broader State and NITI Aayog MPI frameworks.
• Tribal and marginal inclusion: Create dedicated tribal sub-plans to ensure fair representation and land rights.
• Livelihood security: Focus on job creation, skill development, and micro-enterprise financing to prevent relapse into poverty.
• Sustainability audits: Regular monitoring and impact assessment of rehabilitated families.
• National replication: Kerala’s model offers a template for other states—combining decentralised governance, data-based targeting, and community-driven execution.

Conclusion

• Kerala’s EPEP marks a milestone in India’s fight against extreme poverty — showcasing how decentralised governance, human-centric micro-planning, and participatory implementation can transform lives. 
• While political criticism and inclusivity gaps persist, the model provides a replicable framework for sustainable and equitable poverty eradication in India.
• By blending welfare delivery with dignity and empowerment, Kerala reaffirms its place as a social development pioneer.

Source: TH | IE