In the heart of Kerala, a groundbreaking initiative is making significant strides in combating extreme poverty. The state’s ambitious Extreme Poverty Alleviation Project (EPAP), also known as “Athidaridrya Nirmarjana Paddhathi,” is designed to uplift families from dire circumstances, offering them a brighter future through targeted support.
The project’s impact is vividly illustrated by the stories of Rejimol MR and Fathima Abdul Kareem. Rejimol, a coir worker struggling to provide for her family, is finally seeing her dream of a safe, new home materialize. Her unfinished two-bedroom house, situated beside her husband Sunil Kumar’s unsafe ancestral home, is nearing completion thanks to the Life Mission housing scheme, which has provided substantial financial assistance. “It is certainly a big relief for us that at least half of the home’s cost has been borne by the government,” Rejimol shared, expressing her hope to move into the new house soon.
Similarly, Fathima Abdul Kareem, who has been paralyzed from the waist down since birth, found a new lease on life through the “Ujjeevanam” scheme, a component of EPAP. This scheme focuses on ensuring livelihoods for those in extreme poverty by providing financial aid for various income-generating activities. Fathima, who always had a passion for jewellery and umbrella making, utilized the assistance of ₹48,500 to purchase materials, turning her talent into a viable source of income. Her family also received ₹50,000 for essential house repairs.
These personal success stories are part of a larger state-wide effort. Kerala aims to be the first state in India to formally declare the eradication of extreme poverty. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is set to announce the scheme’s success, a culmination of a four-year-long project that has identified and supported over 64,000 families categorized as extremely poor.
MB Rajesh, the state’s minister for local self-governments, highlighted the project’s origins in a Niti Aayog study that revealed Kerala’s remarkably low poverty rate of 0.7%. “We understood that it was important to reach out to this population, however small it is, and meet their needs as part of a dedicated programme,” he stated. The approach involved extensive ground-level surveys to identify families based on critical indicators like food security, health, housing, and livelihood. This meticulous process led to the identification of 103,099 individuals from 64,006 families as extremely poor.
The project’s success hinges on its micro-planning approach at the grassroots level, creating tailored plans for each family to address needs ranging from land and housing to essential documents, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods. This strategy emphasizes the integration of all government schemes to provide comprehensive support.
While the EPAP initiative is being lauded for its progressive approach, it has also faced criticism. Tribal organizations have pointed out that the project might be overlooking significant segments of the population, particularly Dalits and tribals, who remain landless and homeless. Concerns have been raised that the declared success might not fully reflect the ground reality for these vulnerable communities.
Additionally, some critics, like former professor J Prabhash, have questioned the methodology used to identify the “extremely poor” and suggested the project could be perceived as a political maneuver ahead of elections. However, officials involved emphasize the extensive surveys and the collaborative efforts between various government departments to ensure that the project’s objectives are met efficiently.
Despite the criticisms, the EPAP in Kerala represents a significant commitment to social welfare, aiming to create a more equitable society by directly addressing the needs of its most vulnerable citizens.