Kerala: Can India’s Southern State Truly Eradicate Extreme Poverty?
Kerala has proudly declared itself the first Indian state to eradicate extreme poverty, as announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a special legislative session. This achievement was a result of a multi-pronged approach, including an investment of over Rs 1,000 crore, providing food, medical assistance, and housing to numerous vulnerable families. The state implemented micro-level projects tailored to individual needs after identifying over 64,000 families in need. The Congress-led opposition, however, boycotted the session, calling the announcement “pure fraud.”