Minister defends Kerala’s ‘extreme poverty-free’ claim, says Modi can take credit if other states match it

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister M B Rajesh has issued a clarification regarding Kerala’s upcoming declaration as the first ‘extreme poverty-free’ state in India. The state is set to make the announcement on Saturday. However, the move has sparked criticism from several quarters, with allegations that the government’s data is inaccurate and that the declaration is misleading.

Explaining the criteria, Rajesh said that the extremely poor are those who lack access to basic needs such as food, healthcare, safe housing and income. These are people who have never been beneficiaries of any government welfare scheme and often do not possess documents like ration cards or Aadhaar cards. The state government, he said, had provided direct assistance to ensure their survival.

Calling it a historic achievement for Kerala, the Minister emphasised that the declaration was not made arbitrarily. He remarked, “The BJP believes this achievement belongs to the Modi government. If that is so, then let the BJP make other states poverty-free too — and we will gladly give them the credit.”

Rajesh clarified that the decision was not taken overnight. It was, in fact, a resolution passed in the first Cabinet meeting of the re-elected LDF government in 2021. He added that a detailed set of guidelines was later published, and that those criticising the move might not have read them.

The Minister further explained that the data was collected in coordination with local self-government institutions. He stated that the government had announced the eradication of extreme poverty, not the eradication of poverty as a whole.