A galaxy of reputed economists, social activists, environmentalists and thinkers - mostly Left liberals like R V G Menon, M A Oommen and K P Kannan - have raised serious questions about the LDF government's claim that Kerala has become the first state in the country to eradicate extreme poverty. 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will officially declare Kerala as 'extreme poverty'-free in the Assembly on November 1. 

"Extreme poverty is not something to be taken casually. Employing it for propaganda is unacceptable," the Left-leaning intellectuals said in an open letter on Thursday. "Before the proclamation on November 1, the government is bound to answer some questions," it said.

One, what are the parameters used to identify the extreme poor in Kerala? Which expert committee had conducted the survey? "The government should attest to the authenticity of the data and should also reveal the study report on which the data was drawn," the letter said.

Two, why is the government claiming that there are only 64,006 extreme poor when the Economic Survey 2024 shows that 5.92 lakh families are included in Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), the poorest (yellow card holders) of the four categories in the Public Distribution System.

"Since 2023, the Kerala government has been providing free rice and wheat for these families. And for this, the Centre has been providing rice at ₹3 per kg and wheat at ₹2 per kg. Are we declaring the state as 'extreme poverty'-free because these families have been pulled out of extreme poverty? Does this mean that there will be no more yellow card (AAY) holders in Kerala," the letter said. 

Three, is 'extreme poor' another word for 'destitute'? 

The note issued by the Local Self Government Department describes as 'extreme poor' those without income, those going without two square meals a day, those who cannot cook even if provided ration food and those with serious illness. "Don't they come under the 'destitute' category," the letter said.

Four, is Extreme Poverty Eradication Project (EPEP) a revised version of the Aashraya Scheme? 

"In 2002, it was through Aashraya that destitute families were identified and offered support. The scheme had won the Prime Minister's award in 2007. Later, the scheme was converted into the extreme poverty eradication scheme," it said.

It also wanted to know the number of destitute families in Kerala when the Ashraya Scheme began. "It is a mystery that the original EPEP list of 1.18 lakh families had shrunk to 64,006," the letter said. 

Five, what is the factual basis for the claim that extreme poverty has been rooted out? Have these people included in the extreme poor list received any benefits from central schemes?

Six, what was the magic done to eradicate the extreme poverty of 4.85 lakh tribals in 1.16 lakh tribal families in Kerala. These are figures from the 2011 census. 

"The latest figures show that the number of extreme poor families among tribals is 6400, which is just 5.5 per cent of the 2011 figure. Are these 5.5 per cent destitutes or extreme poor under Antyodaya Anna Yojana," the letter wanted to know.

Seven, is there a survey report that provides the correct picture of the economic condition of other sections of society?

Eight, how was the poverty survey carried out? Did the Local self Government Department merely collect 'lists of recommendation' from panchayats and municipalities?

Nine, shouldn't ASHA workers and other scheme workers who receive a daily wage of ₹233 be considered extreme poor?

Ten, have consultations on the economic parameters used to identify extreme poverty been held with the state's Statistical Department or Planning Board?

The signatories include: R V G Menon, M A Oommen (economist), K P Kannan (economist), M K Das (journalist), G Ravindran (Former Additional Director General, Statistical organisation), M P Mathai (Former Professor Gandhian Studies MG University), C P Rajendran (scientist), K Aravindakshan (Former Collegiate Director, Ernakulam Zone), Mary George (economist), R Radhakrishnan (Former President, Kerala Shasthra Sahithya Parishad - KSSP), Sunil Mani (former CDS director), Dr V Ramankutty (public health expert), John Kurien (Former Professor, CDS), M Kabeer (economist), J Devika (social activist), M Vijayakumar (Director, Health Action by People), N K Sasidharan Pillai (Former President, KSSP), Joseph V Mathew (social activist), K G Thara (Former Director, Kerala State Disaster Management), K T Rammohan (Former Dean MG University), Sridhar Radhakrishnan (environmentalist), M Geethanandan (social activists), P Vijayakumar (Former Professor University College), Saritha Mohanan Bhama (poetess).

The LDF government said that Kerala had identified 64,006 extreme poor in Kerala.  However, 4729 families have dropped out of the list. Of this, 4421 families (mostly single-person households) cease to exist because of deaths. 261 families who lead a gypsy existence could not be traced. And there were 47 cases of duplication. 

In total, 4,729 families have been scratched off from the first list. So on November 1, it is the remaining 59,277 families that will be declared as saved from extreme poverty.