Thiruvananthapuram: Four years ago, 24-year-old Remya P from Chavara village in Kerala’s Kollam district saw her world fall apart — widowed, battling cancer, and struggling to raise two children without a job or shelter. Today, she stands as a cancer survivor, employed at a local panchayat helpdesk, and living securely in a home provided through the state’s LIFE housing programme. Her transformation was made possible under Kerala’s Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP), which identifies and uplifts families facing the direst conditions.

The EPEP, spearheaded by the Local Self Government Department (LSGD), addresses key distress factors — food, income, health, education, and housing — to ensure no one is left behind in the state’s development. The programme has successfully uplifted 64,006 families comprising over 1.03 lakh individuals, providing them with consistent access to food, healthcare, livelihood, and shelter.

With the achievement of 100% of its targets, Kerala is set to be declared India’s first “extreme poverty-free state” on November 1, coinciding with State Formation Day. LSGD Minister M. B. Rajesh called it a proud milestone, noting that Kerala now ranks second in the world after China in eliminating extreme poverty. He credited the initiative’s success to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose coordination across departments ensured seamless execution and monitoring.

Rajesh said the programme prioritised the most marginalised groups, including nomadic communities, unaware of government benefits. “Microplans were prepared based on each family’s specific needs — for some it was medical care, for others food or housing,” he explained.

A statewide survey revealed that income deprivation affected 35% of these households, health issues 24%, food deprivation 21%, and shelter loss 15%. The initial phase of EPEP focused heavily on food and healthcare access — distributing food kits and cooked meals, providing medicines, doorstep treatment, palliative care, and even organ transplants.

Among the beneficiaries is Das Raj, a 67‑year‑old daily wage worker from Idukki, who recently moved into a new two-bedroom home built under the project. His old tin-roofed hut was replaced with a proper house after decades of hardship.

Finding land for the homeless proved the biggest challenge, the minister admitted. However, 7,083 safe houses were completed across Kerala by the end of September 2025. Rajesh added that while the programme has met its immediate goals, the government plans to continue EPEP to prevent future instances of extreme poverty.

Not every beneficiary’s journey is complete yet. In Kumaramangalam, visually impaired street singer Shy Varghese has received a new home, but cannot move in due to an unsafe access path and lack of electricity. Local officials have assured him that both issues will soon be resolved.

With inputs from PTI