Context:
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will officially declare Kerala as the first State in India to eradicate extreme poverty on November 1, 2025, at a function in Thiruvananthapuram. This announcement follows the State’s Extreme Poverty Eradication Project initiated in 2021.
Key Highlights / Details:
- Target Achievement: Kerala identified 64,006 families as extremely poor in a 2021 survey; 59,277 families have now been fully rehabilitated.
- Remaining Cases:
- 4,424 individuals died during the period.
- 261 families are nomads or inter-State migrants being tracked for inclusion.
- 47 complex cases pending due to multiple family registries in different local bodies.
- Project Measures:
- Micro plans prepared for every family.
- Rehabilitation ensured in housing, food security, health, education, livelihood and social security.
- Support extended through local self-government bodies and Kudumbashree networks.
- Government Approach: NITI Aayog in 2022 acknowledged Kerala as the only State developing State-level multidimensional poverty elimination micro plans.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Definition (India-specific): Extreme poverty in Kerala identified via multidimensional criteria, not just income.
- NITI Aayog Poverty Index: National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) uses indicators across health, education, and standard of living.
- Kudumbashree Mission: Women-led self-help movement in Kerala aiding poverty eradication since 1998.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Model of decentralised governance in poverty eradication using Panchayats and local bodies.
- Role of social welfare plus livelihood approach rather than cash-transfer-only models.
- Focus on inclusive growth and human development parallel to SDG-1 (No Poverty).
- Ensuring last-mile delivery through micro-level planning and community participation.