ULCCS offers a compelling story on International Co-ops Day

As the world comes together on 5 July to mark the International Day of Cooperatives, the spotlight turns to the enduring promise of cooperation as a tool for dignity, inclusion and sustainability. Against this backdrop, the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) of Kerala offers a compelling story, one that is both quietly transformative and deeply rooted in human values.

The origins of ULCCS date back to 1925 in a small village named Uralungal, where a group of marginalized masons and carpenters, struggling with lack of employment and basic dignity, came together under the moral guidance of reformer Vagbhatananda. They didn’t form a cooperative for profit or prestige.

They did it for survival and self-respect. What began as a humble group pooling effort and earnings has now evolved into one of India’s most respected worker cooperatives, shaping roads, building infrastructure, running educational and skilling institutions, and empowering communities across regions.

What sets ULCCS apart is its lived commitment to fairness, honesty, and care. For nearly a century, it has offered a model of development where progress doesn’t come at the cost of people or the planet. It functions not as a company chasing contracts, but as a people-led movement that places dignity and equity at the heart of every action.

Long before sustainability became a buzzword, ULCCS had quietly embedded it into their way of life. Their campuses harness solar energy, conserve water, and use eco-friendly designs. Their roads and smart infrastructure projects are built with community needs in mind. Their initiatives support local employment, offer vocational training to youth, and demonstrate that inclusive growth is not only possible, but practical.

Among its many human-centred interventions, one that stands out is Sargasheshi, a crafts store in Kozhikode run entirely by women with Down syndrome. Started in 2021 in collaboration with the Down Syndrome Trust, the initiative is neither charity nor tokenism. It is empowerment in its truest form, offering training in weaving, printing, and crafting, and enabling these women to manage operations independently.

Each product sold is more than an item, it is a symbol of identity, pride, and resilience. It reflects the spirit of ULCCS, which recognizes that inclusion isn’t a matter of compliance but of deep human commitment.

Unlike many organizations that measure success by profits or expansion, ULCCS draws strength from the quiet power of community. There are no strikes, no hierarchical conflicts, just a deep trust among members that the collective good outweighs individual gain.

Its new venture, U Sphere, aims to take this philosophy across India by combining traditional cooperative wisdom with modern technology. This initiative aspires to demonstrate that when communities are trusted to lead their own development, the outcomes are both sustainable and just.

On this International Day of Cooperatives, ULCCS reminds us what true cooperation can achieve. In an era where inequality widens and environmental crises loom large, it offers a working example of hope, not in promises or programs, but in everyday acts of mutual support, of livelihoods built and lives uplifted. It shows us that change doesn’t always need to be loud or large; sometimes, the most profound revolutions begin with people choosing to believe in each other.

From its muddy origins in Uralungal to its green campuses and tech parks today, ULCCS’s journey is a tribute to cooperation not as a sector, but as a way of life. And in celebrating Coops Day this year, we also celebrate the enduring spirit of communities like ULCCS, who show us that the road to a better world is one best built together.