Known for its high literacy rate and social welfare programmes, Kerala has maintained its position as a model for human development. (image-X/KeralaTourism)
Setting benchmarks for India, Kerala has eliminated poverty by achieving significant socio-economic progress, improving living standards and bridging income disparity. Another Indian state that has follows closely behind is Goa.
Known for its high literacy rate and social welfare programmes, the state has long maintained its position as a model for human development.
Interestingly, in the 1961 census, Kerala was considered one of the poorest states in India, with nearly 68.35 percent of its population living below the poverty line. Today, the number has dropped to an impressive 0.61 percent, making Kerala the Indian state with the lowest poverty, according to a TOI report.
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Social Schemes
Kerala has lifted nearly 44,539 families out of extreme poverty, reported Deshabhimani.
Kerala’s remarkable development is attributed to its progressive policies, including land reforms, universal education, affordable healthcare, social security initiatives and more, according to NITI Aayog’s 2023 National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report.
Initiatives such as Kudumbashree empower women through self-help groups and universal pension schemes, ensuring social security for the most vulnerable sections of society. Their ‘Ujjivanam’ project, which aims to provide job training, has reportedly helped 3,155 families secure sustainable livelihoods and long-term income.
Healthcare
Kerala has transformed 694 public health centres into family health centres and plans to take the number to 886. While 62 centres are under construction, 78.32 percent of these centres have completed their construction work.
The report also highlighted that 80.70 percent of the southern state’s population receives medical attention before death. The national average for the same is 48.70 percent.
Wage Rates
In rural regions, the average daily wage is roughly Rs 771.10, while the national average is Rs 372.05. While male agricultural labourers earn Rs 807.2 per day, male workers in non-agricultural jobs earn an average of Rs 735 daily.
The national average for the former is Rs 372.7, while for the latter, it is Rs 371.40, according to the Deshabhimani report.
Kerala’s high wage rate is attributed to factors such as strong labour union activism, and intervention of welfare boards, according to the Economic Review Report.
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Following Kerala, the second rank is taken by Goa with a poverty rate of 3.76 percent. Thanks to a robust tourism industry, high per capita income, and strong government policies, the state achieved more inclusive growth.
Sikkim (3.82 percent), Tamil Nadu (4.89 percent), and Punjab (5.59 percent) are other Indian states with low poverty rates.
Meanwhile, Bihar tops the number with the highest poverty rate of 33.8 percent. States such as Jharkhand (28.8 percent), Meghalaya (27.8 percent), Uttar Pradesh (22.9 percent), and Madhya Pradesh (20.6 percent) have the highest poverty rates.
