NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

Kerala is to be declared as the first extreme poverty free state in the country by November 1st. The achievement is the result of a well-planned research and survey, meticulous implementation, community participation and coordinated efforts of various departments. Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan speaks about the journey so far.

- 

The UN has set to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and the Goal 1 is to end poverty and deprivation while making development economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Why is Kerala focused on the eradication of extreme poverty instead of poverty eradication?

CM: Kerala has made great strides in eradicating poverty. Poverty was 59.8% in 1973-74. It has come down to 0.55% in 2019-21. Therefore, in the next phase, the government has focused on uplifting the poorest sections of the society and helping them to escape from extreme poverty. This has led to the goal of 'Eradicating Extreme Poverty'.

T he government is all set to declare Kerala as Extreme Poverty Free State in November this year. What do we communicate to the world while doing this?

CM: Kerala will be declared as the first extreme poverty free state in the country on November 1st. It gives the world a strong message that, with collective efforts and cooperation of the Local Self Governments, society, and various government departments, poverty and even extreme poverty can be completely wiped out from a region. Kerala becomes the first state in the country to fully achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals of 'No Poverty' and 'Zero Hunger'. This achievement reminds us that an inclusive development is possible.

The extreme poverty eradication programme was one of the major decisions of the first Cabinet of the Second LDF government led by you. How has the journey towards this goal been for the past four years?