Kottayam becomes Kerala’s first district to eradicate extreme poverty

The Kerala government’s mission to eliminate extreme poverty achieved a major milestone on Saturday, with Kottayam becoming the first district in the State to be officially declared free of extreme poverty. Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh made the announcement at a function held in Kottayam.

“One of the first decisions taken by this government in 2021 was to eliminate extreme poverty by November 1, 2025. A Statewide survey conducted through Kudumbashree identified 64,006 families living in extreme poverty. Today, 93% of those families have been uplifted from that condition. The progress made by Kerala has drawn attention from across the country. In fact, such a targeted effort has only been seen previously in China,” the Minister said.

From October 2021

According to V.N. Vasavan, Minister for Ports and Devaswom, the district has reached this milestone through a structured, four-year-long process under the Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP), launched in October 2021. The effort involved comprehensive data collection and community participation, with 1,344 enumeration teams and 2,688 enumerators assessing hardship based on food security, health, income, and housing.

Kottayam became the first district to complete the poverty assessment on January 10, 2022. The final survey identified 903 individuals living in extreme poverty. A total of 978 micro-plans were then prepared and implemented through local self-government bodies to address their needs.

Measures adopted

Support provided included food kits, cooked meals for 605 families, medicines for 693 families, and palliative care services for 206. Health and safety supplies were distributed to six families. Income-generation support was extended to 156 families through various initiatives including Kudumbashree’s Ujjivanam project, local bodies, and private partners. Housing assistance was given to 67 families lacking shelter and 50 families who needed both land and housing. Another 22 families were moved to rented homes.

Additionally, 490 beneficiaries were helped to obtain key documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and bank accounts. Educational support included free bus passes and study materials for 55 students. The project also took steps to rehabilitate and assist persons with mental health issues and those who were homeless or wandering.