The Kerala government has claimed it has eradicated extreme poverty in the state. K J Joseph, Aswathy Rachel Varughese & Kiran Kumar Kakarlapudi explain the conceptual framing, outcome metrics & the way forward for a state that’s not just fighting poverty, but reframing what it means to be poor

l Extreme poverty in Kerala’s context

KERALA’S CLAIM THAT it has eradicated extreme poverty draws from its Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP), launched in 2021. In a unique departure from conventional poverty metrics, it reimagined how the extreme poor are identified: not through income thresholds or self-enrolment, but via a community-validated, multi-dimensional lens. The project identified households across the state who lacked secure shelter, food, income, or access to healthcare

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