KOZHIKODE: Vadakara-based Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society(ULCCS) has become the 13th permanent member of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) from India.
ULCCS chairman Rameshan Paleri accepted the membership from its president Ariel Guarco in New Delhi on Monday. It is also the only primary cooperative from India to become a member.
Usually, only the national body of cooperatives gets the ICA permanent membership. ULCCS receives the honour for its 94 years of service.ULCCS was established initially to strengthen construction and infrastructure sectors during the pre-independence era.
"Cooperatives, cooperators and governments should work together for the betterment of the society," Mr Guarco said.
Over the years, the ULCCS has emerged as a total solution provider for construction and infrastructure.
As part of transformation and technology, it gradually diversified into tourism, IT, ITeS, infrastructure, education, skill development, agriculture and dairy business.
The ICA, headquartered at Brussels, lauded its growth and success saga as a role model for co-operatives to scale up across the globe.
ICA represents an estimated three million cooperatives worldwide, 25 per cent being in India, providing a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and coordinated action.
It works with global and regional governments and organisations to create a legislative environment.
ICA membership enables ULCCS to partner in technology, skill development, education and capacity building across member countries.
ULCCS said it would propose an international centre for excellence in skill development, advanced technology and training in Delhi.
ULCCS group CEO Raveendran Kasthuri, project coordinator Kishore Kumar and UL Education director Dr T.P. Sethumadhavan attended the programme presided over by NCUI president Dr Chandrapal Singh.
