Kerala Set to Declare Itself Free from Extreme Poverty

Kerala Set to Declare Itself Free from Extreme Poverty
Kerala will declare itself free from extreme poverty, marking the success of a four-year-long mission led by the State government. As part of the initiative, around four lakh enumerators surveyed households to identify the most marginalised families. Local bodies then prepared customised micro-plans addressing each family’s specific needs—ranging from housing and healthcare to education and livelihood support. The government reports that 1,03,099 people have been successfully lifted out of extreme poverty through coordinated welfare interventions. Beneficiaries credit the programme for transforming their lives, while some critics question the sustainability of the outcomes and the accuracy of the data. Officials, however, insist that continuous monitoring and local-level engagement will ensure lasting change. The achievement, announced on Kerala Piravi Day, underscores the State’s long-standing commitment to inclusive development and social welf