The Indian state of Kerala has become the first in the country to eradicate extreme poverty – one year ahead of schedule – thanks to a “meticulously planned” programme led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the accomplishment on 1 November. “This historic initiative was launched by involving people from all sections of society and incorporating ideas that emerged from their participation and feedback,” he said. Kerala, home to more than 36 million people, was once among the poorest states in India but now has the country’s lowest poverty rate. The Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP) began in 2021 with a massive door-knocking campaign to survey residents about their needs. It identified 64,006 households living in “extreme deprivation”. Local assemblies then came up with targeted “micro plans” detailing the exact interventions required in their areas, looking at factors such as housing, healthcare, employment, land titles and pensions. The Hindu newspaper said in an editorial that Kerala is “known for its exemplary record in social and human development, and for healthcare systems comparable to those of developed nations”. It described the EPEP’s success as “another milestone”. “This resulted from a four-year, meticulously planned programme involving a gamut of agencies, spearheaded by the local self-government department, alongside extensive community participation,” it added. In the late 1960s, Kerala expropriated private land and redistributed it to landless workers. This, an analysis by Progressive International stated, laid “the foundations for Kerala’s remarkable social indicators: near-universal literacy, one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the global south, and the highest life expectancy in India”.