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 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 and education despite existing welfare coverage.