Kozhikode, 28 July (H.S.): Ramesan Palery, Chairman of the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS), one of India's most successful labour cooperatives, passed away on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Coimbatore. He was 65 and had been battling cancer for a prolonged period.
Ramesan Palery had been serving as the Chairman of ULCCS since 1995 and was widely credited with transforming the century-old cooperative into a nationally and internationally recognised institution. Under his leadership, the society expanded its footprint across infrastructure, information technology, education and other sectors while retaining its cooperative character.
Leadership of ULCCS had remained with the Palery family for much of its history. Ramesan's grandfather, Palery Chantamman, was the society's second president, while his father, Palery Kanaran, led the cooperative for 32 years. Ramesan continued that legacy by serving as Chairman for another 32 years, meaning the family guided the organisation for nearly 80 of its 100 years of existence.
ULCCS was registered on February 13, 1925, as a mutual aid society of labourers with an initial capital of just 36 paise. Fourteen followers of social reformer Vagbhatananda formed its promoting committee, and Chappayil Kunjyekku Gurukkal became its first president. From those modest beginnings, the organisation grew into the world's second-largest labour cooperative and one of Kerala's most celebrated cooperative success stories.
Ramesan Palery received the prestigious Robert Owen Award in 2023, the Kerala government's highest honour for outstanding contributions to the cooperative sector, named after the pioneer of the global cooperative movement. During his tenure, ULCCS earned international recognition after being selected by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a model cooperative society. The organisation also secured membership in the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), reflecting its growing global stature under his leadership.
His death marks the end of an era for Kerala's cooperative movement, where he was regarded as one of its most influential and visionary leaders.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
