Responding to a wave of questions from economists, social scientists, and activists regarding the methodology and criteria behind Kerala’s declaration as an ‘extreme poverty-free’ state, M.B. Rajesh, the Minister for Local Self-Governments, stated that these critics seem to be unaware of the extensive public documentation detailing the government’s inclusive, participatory process.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, just before the official declaration, Minister Rajesh suggested that if the critics’ intentions were truly constructive, they could have offered their insights throughout the various stages of the process, rather than attempting to cast doubt on the initiative at the very last moment.
“Critics are asking which ‘reputed committee’ conducted this survey,” Minister Rajesh noted. “But our approach was far more comprehensive than a small committee. It was a genuine grassroots, participatory effort involving over 400,000 individuals across different levels. We established committees at local body and ward levels, including Kudumbashree volunteers, political representatives, poverty alleviation workers, ASHA workers, SC/ST promoters, residents’ associations, and many others.”
He clarified that the critics seem to be conflating general poverty with ‘extreme poverty.’ The government’s survey specifically targeted individuals lacking essential documents and those who had previously fallen through the cracks of government support systems. After an initial identification of 118,309 families, the list was meticulously refined through a multi-layered, transparent verification process, including checks by local village assemblies (grama sabhas). Crucially, he highlighted that Kerala is the first state in the country to develop tailored micro-plans for each of the 64,006 identified extremely poor families, directly addressing their unique needs.
Evidence is Publicly Available
“Both the process and its progress are extensively documented,” Minister Rajesh affirmed. “This information can be found in government orders, economic surveys dating back to 2022, handbooks from the Kerala Institute of Local Administration, and public statements made by the former LSGD Minister, M.V. Govindan. The Planning Board was also deeply involved. It’s truly regrettable that critics would casually raise doubts without bothering to review these publicly available documents. Regarding concerns about ASHA workers, their daily earnings exceed ₹430, which, by the Union government’s standards, is not below the poverty line.”
Mr. Rajesh detailed the tangible outcomes: essential documents were issued to 21,263 individuals who previously lacked them. Homes were provided for 3,913 families, land for 1,338 families, and home repair assistance of up to ₹2 lakh each was extended to 5,651 families. He added that the Chief Minister is set to unveil a comprehensive report on the project this Saturday.
Prominent Critics
The critical letter, provocatively titled ‘Extreme poverty-free Kerala or Destitute-free Kerala? The government should publish the report identifying the extremely poor,’ lists several distinguished signatories. These include notable educationist R.V.G. Menon, esteemed economist M.A. Oommen, K.P. Kannan (an honorary fellow at the Centre for Development Studies), G. Ravindran (former Additional Director General of the Central Statistical Organisation), and well-known activist J. Devika, among others.