Kerala Declare Free from Extreme Poverty

Context: On Kerala Piravi Day, Chief Minister declared Kerala free from extreme poverty, marking India’s first state-level success in achieving this milestone through a four-year Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP).

About Kerala Declare Free from Extreme Poverty:

What is Extreme Poverty?

• According to the World Bank (2025 revision), individuals living on less than $3 per day (2021 PPP) are considered to be in extreme poverty.

• This threshold represents the median poverty line of low-income countries. It is distinct from poverty, which applies to those earning below higher national or multidimensional thresholds.

Criteria used by Kerala:

• Unlike the World Bank or NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), Kerala defined extreme poverty through four local indicators — food insecurity, poor health access, lack of housing, and absence of income.

• The approach focused on human deprivation rather than purely income-based metrics.

Methods Used for Eradication:

• Comprehensive Identification: Local bodies, assisted by 4 lakh trained officials and volunteers, conducted extensive surveys to identify ~1.18 lakh extremely poor families, later verified to 59,000 families.

• Micro-plans for Each Family: Tailored interventions were designed to address food, shelter, health, and education gaps at the household level.

• Food and Nutrition Security: Over 20,600 families ensured regular food supply through Kudumbashree’s community kitchens.

• Housing for the Homeless: 4,005 out of 4,677 homeless families were provided houses under the LIFE Mission scheme.

• Avakasam Athivegam (Rights Fast): Campaign launched to ensure access to civic documents, pensions, electricity, and LPG connections for all identified families.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:

• GS Paper II – Governance & Social Justice:

• Demonstrates effective local self-governance and decentralised welfare delivery. Example of policy convergence and bottom-up implementation aligned with SDG-1 (No Poverty) and SDG-10 (Reduced Inequalities).

• Demonstrates effective local self-governance and decentralised welfare delivery.

• Example of policy convergence and bottom-up implementation aligned with SDG-1 (No Poverty) and SDG-10 (Reduced Inequalities).

• GS Paper III – Economy & Development:

• Illustrates India’s progress in reducing income and multidimensional poverty. Can be cited in inclusive growth, human development, and welfare economics answers.

• Illustrates India’s progress in reducing income and multidimensional poverty.

• Can be cited in inclusive growth, human development, and welfare economics answers.