Min: Four-year effort behind extreme poverty eradication

T'puram: Local self-govt minister M B Rajesh on Friday defended the state's extreme poverty eradication initiative, asserting that the effort was planned, executed and monitored by Kerala through a detailed, multi-tier process that began in 2021.Rajesh said the project was the very first decision of the second LDF cabinet and was followed by clear guidelines and a statewide survey. "This was not a sudden announcement. A comprehensive guideline was issued, and those raising questions would not be doing so had they read it," he said.He emphasised that local bodies worked without political distinction. He described Friday's event as a moment of pride not only for the govt but also for every local institution involved. Responding to claims that the credit for the outcome should go to the Union govt, Rajesh said, "If someone says the credit belongs elsewhere, then let the same result be achieved across India and the credit can be claimed then. There are still 27 other states." He clarified that the initiative targeted those who were not benefited from any govt scheme and were living in extreme deprivation. "The claim is the eradication of extreme poverty not poverty in general," he added. The public event marking the initiative's completion will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. Govt is misleading public: SatheesanMeanwhile, opposition leader V D Satheesan alleged that the state govt's claim of Kerala becoming a state with no extreme poor is a "fraud built on manipulated data" and demanded that the govt withdraw the planned declaration.The govt is misleading the public under a PR cover after realising it "cannot stitch up victory through real performance, Satheesan told a news conference. He argued that the govt's announcement contradicts figures in the LDF's own election manifesto, which identified 4.5 lakh extreme poor beneficiaries, including 1.5 lakh under the Ashraya scheme. "How did this number suddenly shrink to 64,000? What magic trick is this?" he asked.Citing minister G R Anil's reply in the assembly, he pointed out that 5,91,194 people classified as ‘poorest among the poor' were issued Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cards under central guidelines. "If the state declares there are no extreme poor, won't these six lakh beneficiaries lose Central support?" he asked, referring to concerns raised by economists and social workers. He questioned the methodology behind the new list of 64,000 beneficiaries and alleged that a large number of earlier Ashraya beneficiaries have been excluded. "Was the Planning Board or the statistical department consulted? What were the criteria?" he asked.Satheesan said the govt has not ensured housing for all the needy, noting that 5,91,368 applications are pending under the LIFE Mission while only 4,62,307 houses were completed in 10 years. "Without delivering justice to the poor, the govt is rushing a political declaration before elections," he said.He also highlighted that as per the 2011 Census, Kerala had 4.85 lakh tribespeople across 1.16 lakh families but only 64,000 have been included in the state's extreme poor list. "Are the rest safe in terms of food, housing, health and education?" he asked. Criticising the govt's welfare record, he said the LDF promised to raise the social security pension to Rs 2,500 in 2021 but did not increase it for four-and-a-half years, raising it to Rs 2,000 only now.He urged film stars and other public figures not to participate in the declaration event. "They are respected by people. They should realise the govt's deception," he said