A Historic Accomplishment A Gratifying Experience

Kerala has marked a milestone in its long journey of social progress and inclusive development through Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme. The achievement reflects decades of progressive policies, people-centric governance, and the unwavering commitment of local self-government institutions. In this exclusive interview, Kerala Calling Assistant Editor Arathy K.R. speaks with the Minister for Local Self Governments, M B Rajesh about this remarkable endeavour.

KC: Kerala is becoming the first state in the country to be free from extreme poverty. How do you view this achievement as Minister of the Department?

Minister: This is the first time in India and only the second in the world after China that a region has become free from extreme poverty. It is a matter of great pride that we were able to accomplish this. This moment is exceptionally gratifying as this is an inevitable outcome of the multifaceted progress achieved through the famed Kerala model of development. We have reached this achievement through the collective and coordinated work of various departments and agencies under the leadership of the Local Self-Government Department, with the proficient guidance of the Honourable Chief Minister.

KC: The number of extremely poor people in Kerala is negligible. Why did this government decide to formulate a scheme for them?

Minister: This scheme exemplifies the priority of the government. Kerala is a state that has almost eradicated poverty. The NITI Aayog has found Kerala to be the state with the lowest poverty in the Multidimensional Poverty Index. In the Multidimensional Poverty Index published by the NITI Aayog in 2023, the poor in Kerala are only 0.55 percent of the state’s population. The extremely poor were a very small group. But this government gave first priority to liberating such a small group from poverty. That is why the government decided in its first cabinet meeting to create a special scheme for them and free Kerala from extreme poverty.

KC: Such models are uncommon in the world. How did the government conceive such a goal?

Minister: If a modern society like ours cannot uplift people suffering from extreme poverty, it must be regarded as a grave failure. The reality is that poverty, hunger, unemployment and other hardships continue to persist even in many highly developed nations. Some of these countries have not even considered formulating special plans to address such problems. In contrast, China, which achieved rapid economic growth, took a decisive step at a crucial stage by announcing its resolve to eradicate poverty. It then implemented a well structured plan and succeeded in fulfilling that goal. T his achievement inspired us.

Within the framework of our Constitution and federal system, we too, have strived hard for this historic accomplishment, through timely and determined efforts. Kerala stands as living proof that with strong willpower, any crisis can be overcome and a better life can be ensured for the people.

KC: The very first decision of this government’s very f irst cabinet meeting was to formulate a plan for eradicating extreme poverty. The true distinctiveness of this project begins right there, doesn’t it?

Minister: Certainly. The initiative stemmed from a political vision to ensure a better life for the most vulnerable sections of society. If we look at the measures and legislations introduced by our governments in Kerala, we can clearly see the unwavering commitment to the poor and the working class. From redistributing agricultural land to farmers, providing free education to children of ordinary families, implementing multiple welfare schemes and ensuring free access to quality healthcare, every effort reflects a consistent focus on public welfare and national development. While these measures have significantly improved living standards over time, a small minority has continued to remain marginalised and in extreme poverty. Addressing their plight was given top priority. This is precisely why the government launched Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme as its flagship project.

KC: How were the beneficiaries identified ensuring that not a single deserving person is left out? In what manner was the scheme formulated to address their needs?

Minister: A total of 64,006 extremely poor families were identified through a survey conducted by the local self-government institutions in collaboration with Kudumbashree. A preliminary list was first drawn up through focus group discussions that included social organisations and subject experts at both the local body and ward levels. Comprehensive information was then collected, thoroughly verified and refined to ensure accuracy. The final list was approved by the ward and grama sabhas, as well as the respective local bodies.

T he identification of extremely poor families was based on key hardship factors—food, health, housing and income. Families facing one or more of these hardships were included. For each identified family, a separate micro plan was prepared to address their specific challenges. Local self-government bodies, with the support of various government departments and agencies, worked to implement these micro plans in practice. Importantly, this was not a single uniform state-wide plan; instead, 64,006 unique micro plans were designed and implemented—one for each family.

KC: The nature of extreme poverty differs from family to family. Did this pose a challenge in implementing the project? How was this addressed?

Minister: Uplifting families from extreme poverty requires both comprehensiveness and coordination. No single department or local self-government institution can achieve this on its own. Poverty in each family may arise from different causes, and these causes must be carefully identified and resolved. This reality was anticipated from the very beginning. Accordingly, efforts were made to study the specific factors contributing to each family’s poverty and address them through tailored micro plans.

We began the project with the clear understanding that its implementation would involve numerous challenges. Step by step, we worked through them, directly confronting obstacles and steadily moving toward our goal. At every stage, the Chief Minister personally monitored progress and made timely interventions wherever necessary.

KC: Was the project implemented in phases as envisioned by the government? What challenges did you encounter?

Minister: The Extreme Poverty Eradication Project was launched in 2021 with the target of making Kerala free from extreme poverty by November 1, 2025. On November 1, 2023, during the Keraleeyam programme, the Honourable Chief Minister announced that 47.89 percent of the extreme poor had already been lifted out of poverty. In the first phase, 30,658 families—out of a total of 64,006—were liberated from poverty.

To achieve our goals, a wide range of assistance was provided: resolving hardship factors, supplying entitlement documents such as ration cards, Aadhaar cards, and employment guarantee cards and ensuring access to food and healthcare. A comprehensive programme was also implemented to provide land and housing for those without them.

Over time, the number of families has slightly decreased due to the passing away of beneficiaries in some single member households and the migration of others to different states. We are moving forward with confidence, working systematically and on time to meet the target. T he project is both comprehensive and meticulous. Difficulties were anticipated, but they are being steadily overcome, and the goal will be achieved within the stipulated timeframe.

KC: The local bodies have led this massive project. How do you evaluate their performance?

Minister: This project has been implemented through the coordination of local self-government bodies, in collaboration with various state government departments, different agencies, and the people at large. A project of this scale can only be effectively carried out by local bodies that maintain direct contact with the people. Kerala’s local bodies have a long tradition of being active, responsive and closely connected to the community. By efficiently coordinating modern facilities and systems, they were able to execute the project without major difficulties. I take this opportunity to commend and congratulate the local self-government bodies for their remarkable efforts.

KC: Can extreme poverty be eliminated through short term measures alone? What steps are being taken to ensure that beneficiaries do not slip back into extreme poverty?

Minister: Both short-term and long-term plans were designed for the eradication of extreme poverty, depending on the specific hardship factors involved. For example, issues like housing and income require more time to resolve, whereas health services and food support can be provided more immediately. If the assistance and services aimed at eradicating poverty are delivered in a sustainable manner, families will not fall back into extreme poverty.

Kerala’s development journey itself proves this point. T he state has never reversed any of its social achievements; instead, the history of poverty here shows a steady and continuous decline. It is evident that low levels of poverty have not resurged in Kerala. Still, recognising the possibility that some families may fall back into hardship, ongoing efforts will continue to safeguard this achievement and ensure that the progress made is permanent.

KC: Can we ensure that there will be no more extreme poverty in Kerala?

Minister: As long as Kerala’s social, economic, and cultural achievements are preserved, extreme poverty will not return. The history of Kerala is one of consistently designing and implementing projects to uplift people from poverty and lead them toward a better life. This has been the foundation of modern democratic Kerala. I firmly believe that no one can undo the high standard of living and social awareness that the state has attained through the renaissance, social reforms, progressive legislations and forward-looking government measures.Our unwavering vigilance in safeguarding these achievements gives us the confidence to state that extreme poverty will not reappear in Kerala. The services and assistance currently extended to families will continue for as long as required. Moreover, even after Kerala is declared a state free from extreme poverty, both the government and local self-government institutions will remain fully alert and committed to ensuring that this achievement is sustained.

KC: Kerala has implemented many poverty alleviation schemes over time. How is this scheme different?

Minister: Over the years, Kerala has introduced several schemes aimed at achieving steady social and economic progress and improving people’s lives step by step. T hese initiatives gradually freed people from hunger and hardship, raising Kerala’s standard of living to be comparable with developed nations. Through progressive policies and measures, poverty has been significantly reduced.

However, despite these achievements, a small section of the population continued to remain in poverty, often unnoticed. The Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme was specifically launched to identify this marginalised group through a focused survey, bring them into the social mainstream, and ensure them a better quality of life. The uniqueness of this scheme lies in its exclusive aim—to completely eradicate extreme poverty.