Kerala Announces Extreme Poverty-Free Status from November 1
The Kerala government has announced that the state will be declared free of extreme poverty on November 1, 2025, becoming India’s first state to achieve this milestone. The formal event will be held at 5 pm at Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram and will feature celebrities including Mammootty, Mohanlal and Kamal Haasan as chief guests.
Program Details
The flagship initiative, called the Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP), identified around 64,006 families living in extreme poverty through district-level surveys. Based on food security, health, livelihood and housing indicators, these families were given tailored support plans to integrate them into welfare schemes. After exclusions for deceased and untraceable persons, approximately 59,277 families were finalised as beneficiaries.
Significance
By tackling multidimensional poverty through micro-plans and coordinated action involving local self-government institutions, Kerala has set a precedent for inclusive development. Officials say the milestone underlines the state’s low poverty rate and strong institutional mechanisms. The ceremony on November 1 will spotlight this achievement.
