Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will officially declare the state free from extreme poverty at a ceremony scheduled for November 1, 2025, at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The event will feature special guests actors Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Kamal Haasan, and all state ministers along with the Leader of the Opposition have been invited, said Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh.
Background of the Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme
The programme began in 2021 as one of the first Cabinet decisions of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. According to a NITI Aayog study in 2021, Kerala had the lowest poverty rate in India at 0.7% of the population. The government launched targeted efforts to reach this small population and meet their immediate and long-term needs.
Survey and Identification of Families
Ground-level surveys identified 64,006 families as extremely poor, based on factors such as food, health, livelihood, and shelter. Many of these families were marginalized, lacking even basic documents like ration cards or Aadhaar cards.
Micro plans were prepared for each family. Essential documents were provided to 21,263 individuals, housing to 3,913 families, land to 1,338 families, and house repairs costing up to ₹2 lakh were completed for 5,651 families.
Progress and Current Status
Of the 64,006 families identified:
- 4,421 individuals (single-member families) passed away
- 261 nomadic families could not be located, mostly migrants
- 47 cases had members listed across different local bodies; plans were consolidated
As a result, 59,277 families have been uplifted from extreme poverty, leaving 4,729 families pending support.
Integrated Government Efforts
Minister Rajesh noted that the achievement was possible due to integration of existing government schemes and introduction of special programs. The social audit process is being completed, and each beneficiary’s house has been geo-tagged.
He emphasized that the success was a collective effort, with local bodies, including those led by the opposition, contributing to the programme.
Organizing the Celebration
General Education Minister V. Sivankutty will head the organizing committee for the November 1 event, celebrating Kerala’s landmark achievement in eradicating extreme poverty.
