Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has declared that the state has successfully eradicated extreme poverty, marking what it calls a historic achievement. According to Ministers M B Rajesh (Local Self-Government) and V Sivankutty (Education), Kerala has become the first state in India and the second region in the world to achieve this milestone.

Citing data from NITI Aayog, the Ministers said Kerala had the lowest poverty rate in India, with only 0.7% of the population living in poverty as of 2021. “The government’s mission was to uplift this small, marginalised group,” they said at a press conference.

The state’s flagship poverty eradication effort began during the first Cabinet meeting of the current LDF government in 2021. Through a detailed scientific survey, 64,006 families were identified as living in extreme poverty, based on factors like access to food, shelter, livelihood and healthcare. Special micro-plans were prepared for each family to deliver focused welfare support, combining various schemes and services under one umbrella.

Of these, 4,421 families (mostly single-member households) were found to have passed away during the project period. Another 261 nomadic families, mostly migrated to other states, could not be located despite repeated efforts. Meanwhile, 47 families had members listed across multiple local bodies and were consolidated for planning purposes. Excluding these, the remaining 59,277 families were officially rehabilitated — leading to the state’s declaration of being free from extreme poverty.

Many listed families didn’t have basic identity documents like voter ID, Aadhaar or ration cards. Officials said that empowering these citizens with dignity and access will be remembered as a proud moment in the state's history.

The official declaration — titled "Extreme Poverty-Free Kerala" — will be made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at 5 pm on November 1 at Thiruvananthapuram Central Stadium. All ministers will attend, and the Opposition Leader has been invited. Special guests include film personalities Kamal Haasan MP, Mammootty and Mohanlal. Cultural programmes are scheduled before and after the event, and a state-level organising committee chaired by Minister Sivankutty has been formed. Simultaneous events will also be held at local self-government bodies across the state.