Wed Dec 03 19:03:21 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten news article:

Summary:

Indian Food Minister Prahlad Joshi assured the Lok Sabha that Kerala will continue to receive the same foodgrain supply under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), despite the state government’s declaration of being free from extreme poverty. The Minister clarified that extreme poverty is not a criterion in AAY guidelines. He cited a NITI Aayog report showing a significant decline in multidimensional poverty across India, including Kerala, from 2015-16 to 2019-21 and from 2013-14 to 2022-23.

News Article:

Kerala’s Poverty-Free Status Won’t Affect Food Grain Allotment: Minister

New Delhi, December 3, 2025 – The Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi has assured the Lok Sabha that Kerala will maintain its current food grain supply under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), despite Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s recent declaration that the state is free from extreme poverty.

In a written response to a query, Minister Joshi clarified that extreme poverty is not a deciding factor in AAY eligibility. “As extreme poverty is not any criterion for identification of eligible households in the AAY guidelines, no change in the supply of foodgrains to Kerala is envisaged for the present,” he stated.

Under the National Food Security Act, AAY households receive 35 kg of food grains per month, while priority households get 5 kg per person monthly.

Minister Joshi referenced the NITI Aayog’s ‘National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023,’ which demonstrates a nationwide decline in multidimensional poverty from 24.85% to 14.96% between 2015-16 and 2019-21. The report estimates that 135 million people escaped poverty during this period. In Kerala, multidimensional poverty fell from 0.7% to 0.55% in the same timeframe. According to NITI Aayog, multidimensional poverty in India declined from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23, implying that 248 million people escaped poverty during this period.

Chief Minister Vijayan made the announcement of Kerala’s extreme poverty-free status on November 1st during a special session of the state assembly. However, the central government has made it clear that this achievement will not impact the state’s access to crucial food security programs.

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