Kerala declared India’s first extreme poverty-free state by CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress-led UDF calls it ‘complete fraud’
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday announced in the state assembly that Kerala has officially become free from extreme poverty. The declaration was made during a special session held to celebrate Kerala Piravi, the state’s formation day. “Today’s Kerala Piravi marks a place in history because we have succeeded in making Kerala the first Indian state without extreme poverty. This Legislative Assembly has witnessed many historic laws and policy declarations. The Assembly now meets at a moment that marks yet another milestone in the creation of a Nava Kerala,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the eradication of extreme poverty was one of the key decisions taken at the first cabinet meeting after the new ministry was sworn in in 2021. “It was also the beginning of fulfilling one of the most important promises made to the people during the Legislative Assembly election,” he added.
Congress strongly oppose claim
However, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) strongly opposed the claim, calling it “a complete fraud,” and boycotted the session in protest.
As the session began, Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan criticised the chief minister’s statement, saying it violated assembly rules under Rule 300. “We cannot be part of this. We are completely boycotting the session,” he said before walking out with other opposition members, who shouted slogans calling the government’s claim “fraudulent” and “shameful.”
Responding to the criticism, CM Vijayan said the opposition’s reaction reflected their own mindset. “We only make promises that we can fulfil, and we have done what we said we would do. That is our answer to the opposition,” he told the House.
According to the World Bank, extreme poverty means living on less than Rs. 180 per person per day. Meanwhile, India’s Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) also measures poverty through other factors such as nutrition, housing, sanitation, education, and access to basic services.
How Kerala overcame extreme poverty
Kerala, already known as India’s first state to achieve 100 per cent literacy, become fully digital and fully electrified, has now reached another milestone by declaring itself free from extreme poverty.
To achieve this, the state government launched a series of targeted welfare initiatives aimed at improving basic living conditions and ensuring no family was left behind. With an investment of over Rs. 1,000 crore, the government focused on providing essential needs such as food, housing, healthcare, and livelihood support.
Daily meals were arranged for 20,648 families, with 2,210 families receiving hot cooked food. Over 85,000 individuals got medical treatment and medicines, and thousands were given secure housing. More than 5,400 new houses were either completed or under construction, 5,522 houses were repaired, and 2,713 landless families received land for building their homes.
Additionally, 21,263 people obtained identity documents like ration cards, Aadhaar, and pensions for the first time. To support long-term income, 4,394 families were helped through various livelihood projects.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government avoided a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Instead, it identified 64,006 vulnerable families and prepared individual micro-plans tailored to each family’s specific needs.
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