Key Points:

Kerala has become the first state in India to escape extreme poverty. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will declare the milestone on November 1, 2025, on the occasion of ‘Kerala Piravi’. In a social media post, he wrote that this milestone was part of the promise made when the Left Democratic Front (LDF) regime came to power in 2021.

He wrote in an X post celebrating the milestone: “On this Kerala Piravi, #Kerala will be declared as the first state in India without extreme poverty. This fulfills the very first decision the GoK made in 2021.”

See Also: Kerala HC Seeks Probe into Larger Conspiracy in Sabarimala Gold Theft Case

Vijayan further explained that, instead of adopting a single policy for all sections, the government of Kerala decided to create specific plans according to the needs and requirements of each group. “Instead of a one-size-fits-all policy, the government identified 64,006 vulnerable families and created specific micro-plans for each one's unique needs,” wrote CM Vijayan.

He highlighted that the achievement was made with an investment of over Rs 1,000 crore, which enabled the state to overcome extreme poverty and make history.

He further detailed the numbers: the government has ensured that 20,648 families receive daily food, and an additional 2,210 people have access to regular hot meals. In the health sector, the government has ensured that 85,721 people have access to necessary treatment and medicines. 

Over a period of three to four months, Kudumbashree workers, ASHA workers, and local body representatives carried out a massive survey in Kerala, which helped them identify 64,006 families and 1,30,009 individuals as “extremely poor.”

The Extreme Poverty Eradication Project was initiated in 2021. “This was a massive joint effort by LSGs, Kudumbashree, and various government departments. This is the Kerala Model of social justice, equity, and compassionate governance in action,” wrote CM Pinarayi Vijayan. [Rh]

Suggested Reading: