Kochi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, leading the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-backed Left Democratic Front (LDF), described the milestone as “historic,” asserting that the state has become India’s first to eliminate extreme poverty. At a special session of the state assembly, Vijayan said the achievement reinforced Kerala’s reputation as a “caring state,” shaped by decades of progressive policy.

The LDF government identified 103,099 individuals from 64,006 families living in severe deprivation, defined by lack of nutritious food, adequate housing, stable income, and healthcare. Instead of adopting a uniform scheme, authorities designed 64,000 customised “micro-plans” tailored to each family’s needs. These ranged from providing homes and land, to arranging jobs, medical treatment, or documentation for welfare eligibility. Community kitchens ensured meals for bedridden or isolated beneficiaries.

Kerala’s social indicators have long marked it as an outlier in India. With a population of 33 million, the state boasts a literacy rate nearing 100%, an average life expectancy of 75 years, the highest in the country, and an infant mortality rate of just 5 per 1,000 live births. Only 0.5% of its population is classified as poor, far below the national average of 15%. Clean cities, well-maintained homes, and robust public health systems have earned it comparisons to developed nations.

This progress builds on a legacy of welfare-minded governance dating back to the 1940s, and even earlier reforms by the Travancore monarchy in 1817, which mandated free education for all children.

While critics accuse the government of overspending, a recent national audit showed Kerala’s debt-to-GDP ratio, at 35%, is better than that of eight other states, and improving since the pandemic. Strong remittance inflows from Keralites working abroad, and higher urbanisation, further bolster revenue.

Opposition Congress leader VD Satheesan dismissed the claim as a “publicity stunt,” arguing that uplifting a select group overlooks widespread deprivation among tribal and coastal communities. Activists say up to 90% of tribal families remain landless, lacking basic amenities such as electricity and drinking water.

Despite its achievements, Kerala faces structural challenges: one of India’s highest graduate unemployment rates (42%), limited industrial growth, continued patriarchal norms, and outward migration as young people seek jobs elsewhere.

Still, many see Kerala as a glimpse of a possible future for India, a model blending social investment, political accountability, and a strong public consciousness that demands inclusive development.