Extreme poverty alleviation in Kerala through central scheme: BJP Kerala chief – The Statesman

Report on Kerala’s Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty

Introduction: State Declaration and SDG Alignment

The Government of Kerala has announced its intention to officially declare the state free from extreme poverty on November 1, 2025. This declaration is presented as a major achievement in the state’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1), which aims to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. A public event featuring prominent actors is scheduled to commemorate this milestone.

Attribution of Progress: A Multi-Level Governance Dispute

A significant dispute has emerged concerning the attribution of this progress, highlighting challenges related to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The BJP Kerala president, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, asserts that the reduction in poverty is a direct outcome of schemes implemented by the central government. The state government is accused of taking undue credit and delaying the eradication of what was already a minimal level of poverty in 2014.

Analysis of Central Government Contributions to SDGs in Kerala

The central government’s role in poverty alleviation in the state is linked to several key initiatives that address multiple SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana distributes 35 kg of food grains monthly to 600,000 families in Kerala, directly addressing food security and poverty.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): An employment guarantee scheme provides employment opportunities for 5.8 million people, contributing to economic stability.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The PM SHRI scheme, a central government initiative targeting children and youth, is cited as another program whose implementation has allegedly been impeded by the state government.

Comparative State Performance and SDG 1 Targets

The report notes a disparity in the rate of poverty reduction between Kerala and other Indian states over the last decade. While Kerala is reported to have lifted 272,000 people from poverty in ten years, other states have recorded significantly higher numbers in the same period.

1. Uttar Pradesh: 60 million people
2. Bihar: 37.7 million people
3. Madhya Pradesh: 23 million people
4. Rajasthan: 18.7 million people
5. Maharashtra: 15.9 million people

Challenges to the Declaration: A Perspective from Frontline Health Workers

The state’s claim of achieving its SDG 1 target is being challenged by Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers. These frontline workers, who are integral to achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), have publicly stated that the government’s declaration does not reflect the reality on the ground. Their concerns highlight a critical gap in achieving SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

• In an open letter, ASHA workers claim they continue to face extreme poverty and daily hardship despite their long service in public health.
• They report a daily wage of Rs. 233, which they state is insufficient for supporting their families.
• The workers have requested that the celebrity guests scheduled to attend the declaration event withdraw their participation, arguing that the event promotes a false narrative.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The central theme of the article is the claim of eradicating extreme poverty in Kerala, with discussions on the number of people lifted out of poverty and the effectiveness of government schemes.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article explicitly mentions the “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana,” a scheme that distributes food grains to families, directly addressing food security for the poor.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – This goal is relevant through the mention of the “employment guarantee scheme” and, more critically, the ASHA workers’ protest over their “meagre” daily wages, which highlights the issue of decent work and fair pay.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 1 (No Poverty):
  • Target 1.1: Eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere. The article’s main subject is the official declaration of Kerala as a state “free from extreme poverty” and the political debate surrounding this claim.
  • Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty. The article provides statistics on the number of people “freed from poverty” in various states, such as “6 crore people in Uttar Pradesh” and “2.72 lakh people” in Kerala, which relates to reducing poverty according to national definitions.
• Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
  • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. The mention of the scheme providing “35 kg of food grains… to 6 lakh families in Kerala every month” directly supports this target by ensuring food access for vulnerable populations.
• Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
  • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value. This is highlighted by the mention of the “employment guarantee scheme” providing jobs to “58 lakh people.” The ASHA workers’ letter, however, questions the “decent work” aspect by stating their “daily wage is a meagre Rs. 233,” indicating a failure to provide fair pay for their work.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 1 (No Poverty):
  • Indicator (Implied): Number of people lifted out of poverty. The article provides specific figures used to measure progress, such as “2.72 lakh people” in Kerala, “6 crore people in Uttar Pradesh,” “3.77 crore in Bihar,” etc., who have been “freed from poverty.”
• For SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
  • Indicator (Implied): Number of beneficiaries of food security schemes. The article states that “35 kg of food grains are distributed to 6 lakh families in Kerala every month,” which serves as a direct indicator of the reach and scale of food assistance programs.
• For SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
  • Indicator (Implied): Number of people provided with employment through government schemes. The article mentions that “58 lakh people are provided employment through the employment guarantee scheme,” which is a quantitative measure of employment generation.
  • Indicator (Implied): Daily wages for specific worker groups. The ASHA workers’ claim that their “daily wage is a meagre Rs. 233” is a specific financial indicator used to assess the quality and decency of work, particularly in relation to living costs.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thestatesman.com