When Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared on November 1 that the state had eradicated extreme poverty, it was not merely an announcement – it was a milestone in India’s development story. In a country where discussions on poverty often circle around statistical debates, Kerala’s declaration invites a deeper reflection on what it means to ensure that no one is left behind.

Much of the national conversation in the days following the announcement has focused on whether such a claim can be empirically verified. Those are valid questions, but as with any large-scale social intervention, the answers cannot be found off the cuff. They require systematic academic inquiry using scientific methods, granular data, and careful evaluation.

That said, even as these studies unfold, Kerala’s

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