Kerala to Make History as India’s First ‘Extreme Poverty-Free’ State on November 1st

Kerala is set to make history on November 1 by becoming India’s first state to be declared 'extreme poverty-free,' marking a significant milestone in social development.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will make the official announcement at Thiruvananthapuram’s Central Stadium on Kerala’s formation day. The event will be attended by top state officials, lawmakers, and film icons Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Kamal Haasan.

This achievement solidifies Kerala’s reputation for strong social welfare policies and inclusive governance. The initiative, launched in 2021 as the Extreme Poverty Eradication Project, was among the first flagship programmes of Vijayan’s second term. The project aimed to identify and support every family in extreme economic distress, ensuring that no household lacked essentials like food, shelter, healthcare, and education.

According to the World Bank, extreme poverty is defined as living on less than $2.15 a day (around Rs 180). However, India follows NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which considers factors like nutrition, sanitation, housing, education, and access to basic services. Kerala already had the lowest share of multidimensionally poor citizens in India—just 0.55 percent, as per the 2023 MPI report.

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The project’s success hinged on comprehensive data collection. Teams comprising Kudumbashree members, ASHA workers, and local representatives carried out door-to-door surveys, identifying 64,006 extremely poor families. Each family was then given a customized development plan based on its specific challenges. Local bodies took charge of executing interventions, providing housing, medical aid, employment opportunities, and welfare support.

In its final phase, 59,277 families were confirmed to have been moved out of extreme poverty after cross-verification and social audits. The state government spent Rs 130 crore over two years to realize this goal, supporting housing, healthcare, and livelihood creation. Kerala also plans to maintain continuous monitoring systems to ensure families do not slip back into poverty.

By achieving the 'extreme poverty-free' milestone, Kerala becomes not only the first Indian state but also the second region in the world—after China—to accomplish such a feat of social equity and inclusive development.