CM Vijayan announces Kerala as India’s first state to eliminate extreme poverty

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 1: In a landmark achievement, Kerala has become the first state in India to completely eradicate extreme poverty, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the Legislative Assembly on Saturday. The announcement came during a special session convened to mark Kerala Piravi, the state’s formation day.

Vijayan said the initiative to eliminate extreme poverty was among the top priorities of his government and was approved during the first cabinet meeting after the ministry took charge in 2021.

The programme, aimed at fulfilling a major election commitment, was implemented through targeted interventions addressing the needs of the state’s most vulnerable families.

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With an investment exceeding Rs 1,000 crore, the government provided daily meals to over 20,000 families, facilitated medical care for nearly 86,000 individuals, and offered housing support to thousands.

More than 5,400 new homes were either completed or under construction, over 5,500 were repaired, and 2,713 landless families were allotted plots for building their residences.

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In addition, thousands of citizens gained access to essential identification documents and social welfare benefits for the first time. Around 4,400 families were also assisted through livelihood initiatives designed to promote long-term stability.

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Rather than applying a uniform policy, the state prepared customised micro-plans for over 64,000 families based on their specific conditions.

The Congress-led UDF opposition dismissed the Chief Minister’s declaration as misleading and staged a walkout in protest. Nevertheless, the achievement adds to Kerala’s list of social milestones, including being India’s first fully literate, digitally literate, and fully electrified state.

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