Editorial 1: ​​​​A Kerala story

Context

Fighting poverty should be treated as a continuous mission that never truly ends.

Introduction

Kerala’s journey reflects how progressive governance, community participation, and strong local institutions can transform lives. On its 69th formation day, the State achieved a remarkable feat — the eradication of extreme poverty. This milestone came from a four-year mission, blending welfare planning, grassroots action, and inclusive development led by the Local Self-Government Department.

Kerala’s Milestone Achievement

• Kerala marked its 69th formation day with the landmark goal of eradicating extreme poverty.
• The success came through a four-year, well-coordinated programme led by the Local Self-Government Department.
• The initiative saw wide community participation across districts and villages.
• The Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP) began in May 2021, during Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s second LDF term.

Decades of Steady Progress

• Kerala’s model of people-centric governance and decentralised planning brought long-term change.
• Poverty levels fell from 59.8% in 1973–74 to 11.3% in 2011–12, showing consistent progress.
• The NITI Aayog’s 2023 report ranked Kerala as the least poor State in India.
• Only 0.55% of its people live in multidimensional poverty, compared to 14.96% nationally.

Targeted Implementation and Custom Support

• Nearly four lakh trained enumerators and Kudumbashree workers identified the poorest families.
• The team avoided self-enrolment to ensure accurate, verified data through field-level checks.
• 64,006 families with 1,03,099 individuals were listed based on food, health, livelihood, and housing criteria.
• Each family received a custom micro-plan with specific help — documents, homes, jobs, medicines, food, palliative care, and organ transplants when required.

Continuing Mission and Broader Vision

• Poverty removal is seen as a never-ending task, demanding constant follow-up.
• Critics raised concerns about tribal welfare and uneven benefits in remote areas.
• The State launched EPEP 2.0 to stop relapse and prevent new cases of extreme poverty.
• Kerala now focuses on infrastructure, green industries, and skilling youth to counter unemployment.
• The Kerala Model blends welfare and growth, empowering local democracy and offering a sustainable, inclusive path for others to learn from.

Conclusion

Kerala’s story proves that poverty eradication is a continuous mission, not a final victory. Through EPEP 2.0, the State aims to sustain gains and prevent relapse. Its people-driven model balances welfarism and growth, ensuring social justice, economic resilience, and democratic strength — a true example of a self-evolving, inclusive development path.