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Kerala to Declare It Has Eradicated Extreme Poverty on Nov. 1 as Methodology Faces Scrutiny

The state says a four-year, locally driven programme created family-level micro-plans that lifted 64,006 identified households out of severe deprivation.

Overview

  • Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is slated to make the announcement on Kerala Piravi Day at a state-level event in Thiruvananthapuram, with a special Assembly session convened for the declaration.
  • Officials say an initial list of 1,18,309 households was refined through ward-level surveys and verifications to 64,006 families, later adjusted to about 59,000 after deaths and migration, all of whom the government says have now been rehabilitated.
  • Kerala’s criteria targeted four deprivations — food security, safe housing, basic income and health status — and included people lacking key documents to access welfare schemes.
  • Government-reported outputs include 5,422 houses built, 5,522 renovated, land provided to 439 families, expanded healthcare and palliative support, and food assistance and livelihood measures tailored through individual micro-plans.
  • Economists and activists have issued an open letter seeking the survey report, definitions and verification details, citing a mismatch with 5.92 lakh Antyodaya Anna Yojana families, as the opposition labels the claim political while the minister says the effort targets only extreme — not all — poverty.