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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Slump hits LSGIs' waste management efforts, department launches grassroots-level review
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Local Self Government Institutions (LSGIs) in the state are witnessing a decline in waste management performance, raising concerns about the sustainability of the much-lauded Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam campaign. Enforcement and waste collection activities have slowed down following the campaign's peak in March. These LSGIs were declared garbage-free on March 30, coinciding with the observance of Zero Garbage Day. In response, the LSG department (LSGD) has launched a comprehensive grassroots-level review to identify low-performing local bodies. The review will analyse monthly trends in waste collection and disposal to flag areas that show a dip in performance. According to data with the Clean Kerala Company Ltd (CKCL), it processed over 7,000 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste from LSGIs in March 2025. However, this declined to 6,500 tonnes in April — a 6% drop. 'We have identified the issue and are reviewing the situation at the grassroots. A meeting with presidents and secretaries of LSGIs is scheduled from July 3 to 5 to assess the situation,' LSGD Minister M B Rajesh told TNIE. The declaration on March 30 was celebrated as a milestone, with 1,195 out of 1,200 LSGIs certified as garbage-free following rigorous evaluation. However, the current dip in performance has raised alarm. 'Sans regular auditing and accountability, the garbage-free status may remain only on paper,' said an official associated with the campaign. 'Despite months of awareness efforts, the public attitude has not changed significantly. Enforcement must be strengthened and violators need to be penalised if we are to sustain momentum of the campaign,' Rajesh said. With local body elections approaching, enforcement has taken a back seat in many LSGIs. 'Once elections are declared, the campaign may lose momentum. Anticipating this, LSGD is taking steps to ensure the system remains functional even during election phase,' said a source. The LSGD has assigned internal vigilance officers the mandatory responsibility of dedicating two or three days a week exclusively to waste management oversight.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
How Kerala is charting path to become 1st extreme-poverty-free Indian state
Come November 2025, Kerala is preparing to officially declare itself as the first Indian state to eradicate extreme poverty. This milestone of 100 per cent extreme poverty alleviation follows the launch of the state's comprehensive Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP) in 2021. M B Rajesh, Kerala's minister for local self-governments, told Business Standard that the EPEP has so far succeeded in uplifting 93 per cent of the 64,006 families identified as extremely poor. 'The Athidardrya Nirmarjana Project, or EPEP, was started to uplift the population who are outside the support system of the government. In the initial phase, we identified the population for shortlisting beneficiaries. The final shortlisting gave us 64,006 families for whom we had to plan a comprehensive project,' he said. According to think tank NITI Aayog's National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2023, Kerala tops the list of states with the lowest multidimensional poverty headcount ratio at just 0.55 per cent. Other leading states include Goa (0.84 per cent), Tamil Nadu (2.20 per cent), Sikkim (2.60 per cent), and Punjab (4.75 per cent). What's different in Kerala's EPEP? Kerala's approach to eradicating extreme poverty stands out for its adoption of the MPI framework, which incorporates factors such as food, shelter, health, and income that can help sustainable family growth in the long term. 'Rather than relying on abstract poverty lines, the government deployed local-level surveys through Kudumbashree and panchayats to identify households in extreme deprivation,' said Yadul Krishna, a policy economist. Kudumbashree, Kerala's flagship programme for poverty eradication and women's empowerment, operates as a community network with a three-tier structure: neighbourhood groups, area development societies, and community development societies. Led by local governments and supported by Kudumbashree, ASHA and Anganwadi workers, as well as various community organisations, the EPEP's methodology involved over 1.4 million people to identify the most marginalised, who were previously invisible to existing systems. Each family's needs were assessed individually, and tailored micro-plans were developed by the Local Self Government Department. 'The programme successfully uplifted 47 per cent of the identified families by November 2023. This figure increased to 70 per cent in 2024, and as of now, we have reached 93 per cent of the total families recognised. By November, we aim to achieve 100 per cent coverage, paving the way for the official declaration,' the minister said. Individualised micro-plans are prepared based on the deprivation factors of the family, which help the relevant departments to act swiftly. Most of the identified families fell under the category of homeless or landless-homeless, which were highlighted as the priority. Indicators such as food, clothing, shelter, and health have been kept as first priorities, followed by income generation, which was addressed through channelling financial aid to those eligible for it, as well as creating employability through programmes such as Ujjeevanam, a 100-day special livelihood campaign under Kudumbashree. 'Extreme poverty' eradicated? Despite facing financial constraints, Kerala has been able to invest in welfare schemes and targeted programmes. The minister attributes this to continued and collective effort. 'Instead of limiting ourselves to broad assumptions, we made it a priority to identify, recognise, and take targeted action for those in need. We ensured the active involvement of departments ranging from health to electricity to support families in the most holistic way possible,' the minister said. Along with significant budget allocations, the government has pooled funds under corporate social responsibility and land donation drives to support the EPEP, he added. However, N C Saxena, former secretary of the Union Rural Development Ministry and a member of the erstwhile Planning Commission, said Kerala does have a very low poverty rate according to central government reports, but the claim of eradicating 'extreme poverty' depends on the benchmark used. 'The scale chosen to define poverty can significantly influence such claims,' Saxena said. According to him, the real challenge is to sustain this achievement. 'Low or no income can quickly alter people's living conditions, making unemployment a critical factor. It is important for the state to involve independent agencies, non-governmental organisations, or academic practitioners to conduct thorough studies of such initiatives. An external perspective can help identify potential gaps and provide valuable insights for improving future schemes and projects,' he said. The way forward Kerala aims to declare the official eradication of extreme poverty within the next five months. After the official announcement of this milestone, focus will likely shift to evaluating the effectiveness and sustainability of the initiative. 'First, the state needs a serious expansion of its cooperative and public-sector economy. Kerala Bank, Kerala Financial Corporation, and sectoral cooperatives need capital and autonomy, especially in agro-processing, bio-pharma, and eldercare. There's too much potential here that's being left to private players. Secondly, Kerala needs to structurally reform employment,' Krishna said. He added that the state's model is built on dignity, solidarity, and ecological responsibility. 'If Kerala sticks to that vision, while modernising delivery, it might just offer a future that India desperately needs too,' he added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Kottayam first zero-poverty dist in state
Kottayam: Minister for local self-govt, rural development and excise M B Rajesh formally announced the district as the first in the state without any extremely poor residents on Saturday. Rajesh said that when the LDF govt came to power in 2021, the first decision taken was to make the state free from extreme poverty by Nov 1, 2025, and Kottayam district was far ahead of others in achieving this target. "People in other states are amazed by the progress made by Kerala in eradicating extreme poverty. In the world, such an effort was made only in China before. We are approaching the goal by providing houses to the homeless through the LIFE project, providing land to those without land through the 'Manasodithiri Mannu' project and providing land with the cooperation of private individuals," the minister said. Ports minister V N Vasavan, who presided over the function, said Kottayam will be the first district in the country to achieve this feat. Works launched in 2021 The process of collecting data to identify those living in extreme poverty began in the district in Oct 2021. The survey was conducted on a mass basis. As many as 1,344 enumeration teams participated in the survey, with 2,688 enumerators involved. Focus group discussions and grama sabha discussions were held. Extreme poverty was determined based on food, health, income and housing (homeless, without a home and land). Kottayam became the first district in the state to complete the extreme poverty determination process on Jan 10, 2022. As many as 1,071 people were identified in the survey. Those who died and those who migrated to other states or districts were excluded through a super check. In the final list, 903 people were found to be extremely poor. In Aug 2022, 978 microplans were prepared for the rehabilitation and livelihood of the extremely poor. Project implementation began in Oct 2022. According to the microplan prepared at the LSG level, health services such as food, medicines, palliative care and health aids were made available to all families in need. Providing food kits to families facing food shortages and cooked meals to families unable to cook is still continuing. This service is currently being provided to 605 families. Medicines were made available to 693 families in need. Palliative care services are also being provided to 206 families who needed them. Health and safety supplies were provided to six families in need. Facilities were provided for 155 families who needed a source of income. Income sources were provided to 140 families through the Kudumbashree-Ujjeevanam project, six families through LSG bodies, five families through other departments, and five families through private institutions. Safe housing was ensured for all homeless and landless people. Houses were ensured for 67 families in extreme poverty who needed only houses. Land and houses were secured for 50 families in need of houses, property and housing. Twenty-two families were shifted to rented houses. This was made possible through the LIFE project, PMAY project, sponsorship, and the help of other voluntary organizations. As many as 490 beneficiaries were provided with entitlement documents, including Aadhaar, ration card, bank account and other identity cards. Fifty-five students were also provided with free bus passes. Along with providing study materials to these children, study guidance programmes were also organized. As part of the project, steps were taken to rehabilitate and treat those who wandered and those facing mental challenges.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Kottayam first district in Kerala which is free of extreme poverty: Minister Rajesh
Kottayam , Kerala Minister for Local Self Government, M B Rajesh, on Saturday declared Kottayam district as free of extreme poverty. Kottayam first district in Kerala which is free of extreme poverty: Minister Rajesh Rajesh, speaking at a function held here where he made the announcement. said that Kottayam is leading the way in achieving the state government's goal of making Kerala free of extreme poverty. State Cooperation Minister V N Vasavan, who presided over the event, hailed the achievement and said Kottayam was probably the first district in the country to be free of extreme poverty. Rajesh, during his speech, said that the first decision taken by the current LDF government was to eradicate extreme poverty from the state. For this, a survey was conducted and 64,006 families were found to be living in extreme poverty, he said. He claimed that such an attempt had been made before only in China. As part of the initiative, microplans were prepared for each family and 93 per cent of the families identified in the survey have been lifted out of extreme poverty, he contended. He also said that other states in the country were amazed by Kerala progress in eradicating extreme poverty. Rajesh said the government was moving towards its goal of eradicating extreme poverty by providing houses to the homeless through the LIFE project and giving land to the landless. Vasavan, speaking about Kottayam's achievement, said that the district was ahead in completing the data collection process and preparing and implementing the microplans. He said that 903 families were identified as extremely poor in the district in the final list and 978 microplans were prepared for them in August 2022. As per the microplans prepared at the local self-government body level, food, medicines, palliative care, and health support services, including equipment, were made available to all the families in need, he said. Besides that, facilities for an income source were also provided to over 150 families, the minister said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Indian Express
24-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Kerala to set up green checkposts, enforce plastic ban at hill stations from October 2
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move to protect its ecologically fragile hill stations and tourist destinations, the state government is gearing up to establish green checkposts and introduce an entry fee system at panchayat or district levels to enforce the High Court's ban on plastic bottles and single-use plastics (SUPs). LSGD Minister M B Rajesh told TNIE that the government will implement the ban at any cost and that aggressive enforcement will be launched from October 2, when the ban order comes into effect. The enforcement will focus on key eco-sensitive panchayats and tourism hubs including Munnar, Kumily, Elappara, Athirapally, Nelliampathy, Vythiri, Sulthan Bathery, and Ambalavayal where destinations such as Thekkady, Vagamon, Chalakudy-Athirappill y sector, Pookode Lake, Karlad Lake, and the Wayanad Heritage Museum are located. The minister said that green checkposts will be established at major access points to screen incoming visitors and vehicles for banned plastic items. The High Court's directive prohibits the use of plastic water bottles with capacity below five litres and soft drink bottles below two litres. To support the enforcement mechanism, the government will levy an entry fee, which will be used to fund the hiring of green volunteers, deploy monitoring staff, and manage operational costs to enforce the ban order. 'The government is fully committed to enforcing the High Court order, and aggressive action will begin across the state from October 2. Ahead of the enforcement, a campaign focusing on plastic ban by the HC will be launched immediately. This will continue for three months. A meeting will be held with the stakeholders including hotels, restaurants and tourism industries,' said Minister Rajesh. In addition to enforcement, the LSG department will launch a state-wide Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign to raise awareness about the ban, encourage public participation, and promote behavioral change among tourists and local communities. One of the biggest challenges in front of the government is the limited availability of alternatives to plastic products. To address this, the LSGD has roped in Kudumbashree Mission to scale up the production and supply of eco-friendly substitutes like cloth bags and biodegradable packaging. The state aims to replicate the Munnar Green Corridor across all hill destinations, combining enforcement with community engagement and sustainable alternatives. Strict implementation Focus on key eco-sensitive panchayats and tourism hubs Green checkposts at major access points to screen incoming visitors and vehicles for banned plastic items Entry fee to be used to fund hiring of green volunteers, deploy monitoring staff, and manage operational costs
