Government intervention to alleviate poverty can be sustainable over a long period of time given the fact:
a) The efforts continue on a regular basis and not a publicity stunt or a short lived scheme to attract public attention before elections.
b) These efforts need clarity and a corruption free structure where the efforts actually reach to those who are in need of that.
c) Government introduces long term policies like social grants and other schemes with a strong operating system behind that.
d) The most important condition is public cooperation as without that no government can establish a sustainable poverty alleviation schemes.