Kerala to be Declared Extreme Poverty-Free State; Kamal Haasan, Mammootty, Mohanlal to Attend Ceremony
Kerala is poised to be declared a state completely free of extreme poverty. This momentous achievement makes Kerala the first state in India and the second region globally to attain such a milestone, according to an announcement made by Local Self-Government Department Minister M.B. Rajesh and Education Department Minister V. Sivankutty at a recent press conference. The official declaration of this historic feat will be made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at 5 PM on November 1, coinciding with Kerala Piravi Day, at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Stadium.
All state ministers are expected to participate in the grand ceremony, and the Leader of the Opposition will also be extended an invitation. Renowned film stars Kamal Haasan, Mammootty, and Mohanlal are slated to attend as chief guests, adding a cultural flair to the event. A series of cultural programs will precede and follow the main declaration. A comprehensive organizing committee, led by the Education Department Minister, has been actively working to ensure the success of the program. Concurrently with the main event in Thiruvananthapuram, special programs are being planned across all local self-government institutions throughout the state.
**Extreme Poverty-Free Kerala**
According to statistics from NITI Aayog, Kerala stands as the state with the lowest poverty rate in India. In 2021, NITI Aayog reported that a mere 0.7% of Kerala’s population lived below the poverty line. The initiative to transform Kerala into an extreme poverty-free state was a flagship decision, being the very first resolution passed by the Left Democratic Front government in its inaugural cabinet meeting after assuming power in 2021.
A meticulous and comprehensive survey was conducted to identify families suffering from extreme poverty, revealing a total of 64,006 such households across Kerala. These families were defined as those unable to sustain themselves based on critical factors including food security, health, livelihood opportunities, and adequate housing. To address their diverse needs, a bespoke micro-plan was developed for each family, ensuring targeted support and services in every essential area.
Under the discerning leadership of the Chief Minister and the overarching supervision of the Local Self-Government Department, this ambitious project saw extensive collaboration from all government systems, various departments, dedicated volunteers, and the general public. This collective effort is now on the cusp of a successful conclusion. The remarkable achievement was realized through a strategic integration of all existing government aid and services available to the public via numerous schemes, alongside the formulation of new, specialized projects and services. The social audit process for the entire scheme is also in its final stages of completion.
The list of the extremely poor included many of the most marginalized individuals, some of whom lacked fundamental identification documents such as voter ID cards, ration cards, or even Aadhaar cards. This project is poised to secure a significant place in history for empowering these individuals to lead lives of dignity. Out of the 64,006 identified families, 4,421 (primarily single-member households) have unfortunately passed away since the commencement of the initiative. Despite exhaustive searches and persistent efforts to establish contact, 261 nomadic families could not be traced during the implementation process. The vast majority of these individuals are believed to have migrated to other states. Provisions have, however, been established to provide them with the necessary protection and support should they return to Kerala.
Furthermore, there were 47 instances where different members of the same family were inadvertently listed across multiple local self-government institutions. For these cases, a consolidated micro-plan was formulated, treating them as a single family unit. Excluding these 4,729 cases, a total of 59,277 families are currently recognized as extremely poor. The state aims to lift all these families out of extreme poverty, thereby realizing the vision of an extreme poverty-free Kerala on November 1.