Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], November 1 (ANI): Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader MV Govindan on Saturday hailed Kerala eradicating extreme poverty, saying that the state has 'secured a remarkable place in world history,' as Kerala achieved a feat which only a few countries have managed to attain.

'Kerala has secured a remarkable place in world history. The state is moving towards an achievement that only a few countries in the world have attained. The crisis of the global economy lies in the fact that the rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer. In such a system, extreme poverty can never be eradicated,' the CPM leader told ANI.

Calling for an 'alternative policy' of socialism to end extreme poverty all over, Govindan mentioned, 'To end extreme poverty, there must be an alternative policy and that is socialism. Kerala, though part of a capitalist society, has achieved the feat of becoming a state free from extreme poverty through an alternative system.'

Govind, a former minister of local self-governance, was part of the cabinet meeting in which the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet decided to identify people living in extreme poverty. Subsequently, a comprehensive survey was carried out to identify the people living such conditions, which identified 64,006 families living in such conditions.

'I had participated as a minister in the first cabinet meeting of the second Pinarayi Vijayan government. The key agenda of that meeting was to identify those living in extreme poverty through a detailed survey. According to NITI Aayog's data, only 0.7 percent of Kerala's population lives in extreme poverty, while in North Indian states it is as high as 32 and 30 percent respectively,' he said.

'Gradually, each panchayat and district was declared free from extreme poverty. Today, Kerala stands before the world as a state without extreme poverty. November 1 marks Kerala's formation day and this year, Kerala is celebrating it as the birth of a 'Nava Kerala' before the eyes of the world,' he added.

Hitting out at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the CPM state secretary questioned the party on why the states it rules has not achieved a similar feat.

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of favouring billionares rat her than common people, Govindan said, 'The BJP is in power in several states across India. Why is it that in none of those states has extreme poverty been eradicated? The problem lies in their policy. Narendra Modi's priorities lie with Adani and Ambani. It is they who have been given 32,000 crore and 34,000 crore from India's treasury. The BJP government nurtures corporate tycoons.'

'However, in Kerala, the LDF government stands with ordinary people and strives to uplift their lives,' he added.

The reply by the CPM leader comes following BJP's Kerala state president Rajeev Chandrashekhar criticised the LDF led government, saying that the state government is 'mocking the poor.'

'For the CPM government today, which has actually brought only about a few lakhs of people out of extreme poverty, to say that they are responsible for bringing people out of extreme poverty is mocking the poor because when ASHA workers were asking for a small salary increase... the CPM tried to take credit for this, which is mocking the poor... These people are now making it a profession to use propaganda to mislead the people and to spread lies and try to get political benefit out of this,' Chandrasekhar told reporters earlier this week.

Earlier today Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made a historic declaration in the Legislative Assembly on the occasion of Kerala Piravi (Foundation Day), stating that the state has achieved a remarkable milestone in eradicating extreme poverty.

Chief Minister Vijayan made a statement in the Assembly today under Rule 300 regarding the state's achievement of becoming 'Extreme Poverty Free'.

He added, 'Every Kerala Piravi (State Formation Day), we celebrate with joy. But this year's Kerala Piravi Day is, for the people of Kerala, the dawn of a new era. Today's Kerala Piravi marks a place in history because we have succeeded in making Kerala the first Indian state without extreme poverty.' (ANI)