Brazil’s Landless Rural Workers’ Movement (MST) and India’s Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCSS) are examining a potential collaboration on around community development, sustainable livelihoods, and the preservation of traditional knowledge.
On 24 August, a delegation led by Judite dos Santos – head of MST’s international department – visited ULCSS in Kerala. It marked the first face-to-face meeting between leaders of the two organisations following earlier discussions about potential collaboration.
Founded in 1969, MST (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra) is one of Brazil’s largest social movements, and organises landless rural workers around land reform, collective production, education and social rights.
ULCSS, established in 1924, is one of India’s oldest and largest labour contract co-ops, and has expanded its activities beyond construction in education, agriculture, technology and cultural initiatives.
According to a press release, the two organisations are exploring possibilities for collaboration around community-led development, traditional knowledge systems, cultural heritage preservation, education, and sustainable incomes.
Detailed discussions were reportedly held between Judite dos Santos, head of MST’s international department, and Shaju S, managing director at ULCSS’ Nadapuram Road Head Office. These are said to have explored long-term frameworks for knowledge exchange, strengthening community-based livelihood and craft ecosystems, promoting education and cultural heritage, and future opportunities for collaboration between the two co-ops.
The MST delegation also visited both the Madithattu initiative and the Sargaalaya Arts & Crafts Village at Iringal as a means of gaining real-world insights into ULCSS’ work on community engagement, artisan support, and sustainable livelihood models.
A statement from ULCSS said: “The visit marked an important step towards building a meaningful partnership between two organisations with strong commitments to community empowerment, collective action, and sustainable development.”
The group confirmed that a ULCSS delegation is set to pay MST a return visit in Brazil.
