Ranchi :: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of Kerala has created history by eliminating extreme poverty from the state. Even before this achievement, the LDF government had already secured top positions nationally in literacy, education, healthcare, housing and basic amenities, social security, food and nutrition security, livelihood and employment, Panchayati Raj, MGNREGA, and the cooperative sector. These achievements are also acknowledged by the NITI Aayog of the Government of India.
These remarks were made by Prakash Viplav, State Secretary of the CPI(M), while introducing the topic in a discussion held at the Safdar Hashmi Auditorium in Ranchi on “How the Left Democratic Front Government of Kerala Eliminated Extreme Poverty.”
Kerala: A State Free from Extreme Poverty (2016–2025)
Major Achievements and Policy Interventions
1. Scientific Identification and Family-Level Planning
Launched the Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPDP) in 2021.
Identified 64,006 extremely poor families through door-to-door surveys.
Prepared micro-plans for each family focusing on livelihood, healthcare, housing, education, and social security.
Included vulnerable communities such as coastal, tribal, hill regions, and urban slum populations.
2. Housing & Basic Amenities — The “Housing as a Right” Model
Provided housing to 4,677 families and land to 2,713 families.
Constructed 13,662 kitchen-wash units and 2,558 toilets.
Provided 358 electricity connections and 292 water connections.
Repaired 116 houses and provided drainage support to 49 families.
Joint implementation through LIFE Mission, PMAY (LIFE) and local bodies.
3. Health Security: Ending Poverty Caused by Illness
Health check-ups for 29,427 individuals.
Health insurance for 17,583 families.
Special medical assistance to 85,721 critical patients.
Expert diagnosis for 5,338 children and long-term care for 3,064 elderly persons.
3,103 mental health assessments; malnutrition correction in 1,310 children.
Primary Health Centres transformed into Family Health Centres under the Aardram Mission.
4. Food and Nutrition Security
Distributed food kits to 20,646 families.
Provided meals to 11,626 individuals and daily meals to 587 elderly persons.
Nutrition assistance for 10,452 children and milk supply for 1,007 children.
Kitchen garden support to 292 families.
Universal ration distribution proved effective during COVID-19 and floods.
5. Livelihood & Employment
Livelihood assistance to 4,393 families.
Skill training for 5,835 individuals; employment for 1,455 people.
Entrepreneurial support to 2,640 individuals and assistance to 1,801 small enterprises.
CSR-based financial support to 4,008 individuals.
Kudumbashree’s 1.6 lakh women-led micro-enterprises strengthened the state’s economic resilience.
6. Social Security Pensions: Guaranteeing Minimum Income
Around 62–63 lakh beneficiaries.
Regular pensions for the elderly, persons with disabilities, widows, and individuals living alone.
Creation of a universal safety net funded by the state government.
7. Digital Access and Good Governance
Free internet connections for poor families under K-FON.
Rapid digitization of identification, benefit transfers, healthcare and education services.
Establishment of a corruption-free, efficient service delivery system.
8. Central Role of Local Self-Governments
Implementation and monitoring of micro-plans at the Panchayat level.
Social audits and community-based decision-making.
The hallmark of the Kerala Model: “grassroots state capacity.”
2025 Government Declaration
The Kerala government announced that all major indicators of multidimensional poverty had significantly improved among the 64,006 identified extremely poor families.
Thus, Kerala became the first state in India to successfully claim the elimination of extreme poverty through systematic policy intervention — an achievement driven by compassion, inclusiveness, public investment, and strong local governance.
Speeches and Discussion
Addressing the discussion, Mahendra Pathak, State Secretary of the CPI, said that Kerala’s development model is a people’s model that places the welfare of working people at the highest priority.
The programme was presided over by Rajendra Prasad Yadav.
Speakers included Ashok Yadav (AITUC), P.K. Pandey (CPI), Ajay Singh, Sufal Mahato (Kisan Sabha), Prateek Mishra (CITU), Maulana Kazimi, and Dr. Kirti Singh Munda, along with representatives from various people’s organisations.
Sukhnath Lohra conducted the proceedings.
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