Kerala Becomes First Indian State to Eradicate Extreme Poverty

In a historic move, the southern Indian state of Kerala is set to formally declare on November 1, 2025, that it has eradicated extreme poverty. This announcement will be made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a state-level function in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram.

The state's Extreme Poverty Eradication Project, launched in 2021, has been instrumental in achieving this remarkable feat. Through a comprehensive ground-level survey conducted by the Kudumbashree network, women's self-help groups, ASHA-anganwadi workers, and local bodies, the program identified 64,006 families living in severe deprivation, accounting for roughly 0.2% of Kerala's population.

The initiative then developed individual micro-plans to address the specific challenges faced by each family, ranging from lack of housing and land to chronic illness, absence of income sources, and difficulty in accessing government benefits due to missing documentation. As a result, the program has constructed 5,422 new houses, renovated 5,522 homes, and provided land totaling 28.32 acres to 439 families.

Additionally, the program has supported 34,672 families in earning an additional Rs 77 crore through unskilled labor, while 4,394 families received assistance for self-employment ventures. Health-related interventions, including assistive devices, organ transplant aid, palliative care, and general health services, have also been provided to thousands of individuals.

The official declaration of Kerala's achievement in eradicating extreme poverty will be a significant milestone, not just for the state but for the entire country. Actors Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Kamal Haasan are expected to attend the event as special guests, along with state ministers and the leader of the opposition.