How Kerala eradicated extreme poverty – The Hindu

Report on Kerala’s Declaration of Extreme Poverty Eradication and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1.0 Introduction: Milestone Achievement in SDG 1

On November 1, 2025, the State of Kerala was officially declared free from extreme poverty, becoming the first state in India to achieve this distinction. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a special session of the State Assembly. This declaration marks a significant milestone in the state’s progress towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty) and sets a benchmark for regional development initiatives. The achievement is the culmination of the four-year Extreme Poverty Alleviation Project (EPEP), initiated by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in 2021.

2.0 The Extreme Poverty Alleviation Project (EPEP): Methodology and Implementation

The EPEP was a systematic, multi-stakeholder initiative designed to identify and support the most vulnerable populations, directly addressing SDG Target 1.2, which aims to reduce poverty in all its dimensions. The process involved a comprehensive, community-driven identification and verification strategy.

1. Initial Identification: The process began with data collection at the local body level, involving active participation from local representatives, Kudumbashree workers, volunteers, and officials.
2. Scrutiny and Verification: Families identified were scrutinized and recommended by ward committees. This was followed by a super-check to ensure accuracy.
3. Community Approval: A draft list was presented to the grama sabhas (village assemblies) for final validation, ensuring transparency and community ownership.
4. Final Beneficiary List: Through this process, 103,099 individuals from 64,006 families were identified as living in extreme poverty.
5. Micro-Planning: Customized micro-plans were developed for each family, focusing on four critical factors: food, health, housing, and income, reflecting a holistic approach to poverty eradication.

3.0 Project Outcomes: A Multi-Sectoral Impact on SDGs

The EPEP’s interventions extended beyond basic income support, contributing to a wide range of Sustainable Development Goals. The government invested over ₹1,000 crore in the project’s implementation.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Essential legal identity documents, such as ration cards and Aadhaar cards, were provided to 21,263 individuals, ensuring their access to government services and social security nets.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): A regular supply of food was ensured for 20,648 extremely poor families through the Kudumbashree network, tackling food insecurity at its root.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Comprehensive health services were guaranteed, including access to medicines, vaccinations, palliative care, and support for organ transplants for the identified families.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Secure housing was provided to thousands. 4,677 families received homes under the LIFE mission, and an additional 2,713 families were provided with both land and houses. Furthermore, 428 single-member families were relocated to safe shelter homes.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Livelihood support was extended to 4,394 families to create sustainable income sources. A total of 35,041 families were integrated into the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), providing them with employment opportunities.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): A special scheme was implemented to support 5,583 children, providing free travel for educational purposes. Scholarships were also awarded to 331 students to ensure they could continue their education.

4.0 Conclusion and Future Outlook

Kerala’s success in eradicating extreme poverty demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted, multi-dimensional, and participatory governance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. By integrating efforts across health, education, housing, and employment, the state has created a comprehensive social safety net. This achievement positions Kerala as a model for other states in India and regions globally. The government has emphasized the need for continuous monitoring and periodic checks to ensure that the beneficiaries do not fall back into extreme poverty, thereby sustaining this historic accomplishment.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

The article on Kerala’s declaration of being free from extreme poverty directly addresses and connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus is on poverty, but the multi-faceted approach described touches upon health, food security, housing, education, and employment.

• SDG 1: No Poverty – This is the central theme of the article, as it details the state’s efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The initiative ensured a regular food supply for the identified poor families.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The program included providing access to health services, medicines, and palliative care.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – The article mentions specific schemes to support the education of children from extremely poor families.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The provision of livelihood support and inclusion in employment guarantee schemes is a key component.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The government’s efforts to provide housing and land to homeless families are highlighted.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The article mentions providing essential documents, which relates to ensuring legal identity for all.

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

Based on the specific actions and programs described in the article, the following SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere.
   • The entire article revolves around Kerala’s declaration of being “free from extreme poverty,” which is a direct effort to achieve this target at a sub-national level. The Chief Minister’s statement about this being the “birth of a new era for Kerala” underscores the significance of this achievement.
2. Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
   • The article explains that the identification process considered “food, health, housing and income as the critical factors,” which reflects a multidimensional approach to poverty, aligning with this target.
3. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
   • The article states that “Regular supply of food has now been ensured through Kudumbashree for 20,648 extremely poor families,” directly addressing this target.
4. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
   • The government’s program ensured that “Health services, access to medicines, vaccinations, palliative care and organ transplants have been ensured,” which is a clear step towards universal health coverage for the most vulnerable.
5. Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education.
   • The implementation of “a scheme to provide special attention to 5,583 children through the Education Department and free travel for educational purposes” and providing scholarships directly supports this educational target.
6. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • The article mentions that “Livelihood support was provided to 4,394 families” and “35,041 families were made part of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS),” which are direct measures to promote employment.
7. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.
   • The provision of “Houses…under the LIFE mission for 4,677 families” and providing “2,713 families…land and houses” directly contributes to this housing target.
8. Target 16.9: By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.
   • The article states that in the first phase, “essential documents were provided to 21,263 people, who were struggling without even the basic documents such as ration card or Aadhaar card.” This action is fundamental to establishing a legal identity.

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

Yes, the article provides several quantitative indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator for Target 1.1 & 1.2: The number of individuals (1,03,099) and families (64,006) identified as extremely poor and subsequently supported by the program. The ultimate indicator is the declaration of the state being “free from extreme poverty.”
• Indicator for Target 2.1: The number of families (20,648) that are now receiving a regular supply of food.
• Indicator for Target 4.1: The number of children (5,583) receiving special educational attention and the number of students (331) who were provided scholarships.
• Indicator for Target 8.5: The number of families (4,394) that received livelihood support and the number of families (35,041) enrolled in the MGNREGS.
• Indicator for Target 11.1: The number of families provided with houses (4,677), the number of families provided with land and houses (2,713), and the number of single-member families moved to safe shelter homes (428).
• Indicator for Target 16.9: The number of people (21,263) who were provided with essential documents like ration cards and Aadhaar cards.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thehindu.com