Kerala, governed by India’s only communist-led administration, is on course to become the first state in the country to eradicate extreme poverty. In April, Dharmadam—a town in northern Kerala—was officially declared free of extreme poverty. The announcement is part of a targeted campaign launched, which identified 64,006 families facing severe deprivation based on four indicators: food insecurity, lack of income, poor housing and unmet health needs. As of April, 50,401 families—nearly 80 percent—have been removed from the extreme poverty list.
More than 3,100 houses have been built, 4,000 renovated, and 4,300 families supported with stable sources of income. An additional 14.3 acres of land have been identified for distribution to landless households. Officials say the remaining families, mostly those lacking housing or income, will be included in the final phase. The state has set November 1, 2025 as the deadline for complete eradication, which would make Kerala the first in India to reach this milestone.