Milma, which has been enjoying an unchallenged monopoly in the state’s cooperative dairy sector, would soon have a rival.
KOZHIKODE: Milma, which has been enjoying an unchallenged monopoly in the state’s cooperative dairy sector, would soon have a rival.
Another cooperative behemoth from the state, Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Ltd (ULCCS), the state’s first labour cooperative and one of the largest cooperative societies in Asia, is set to enter the milk processing sector.
ULCCS chairman Rameshan Paleri said the society will set up a high-tech dairy plant with a capacity to process one lakh litres of milk per day in Kozhikode district, which will be up and running by October 2018.
ULCCS was entering the field as there was a huge scope for value addition in the dairy sector, which will also help the dairy farmers, Paleri said.
Dr T P Sethumadhavan, former director of Entrepreneurship at Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) and currently director of UL Education, said the society plans to sell 20% of the plant’s output as pasteurised milk in the retail market and to convert the remaining 80% as value added products like probiotic milk products, cheese, yoghurt, lassi etc.
ULCCS Ltd, founded by eminent social reformer Guru Vagbhatananda in 1925, is now one of the top construction firms in the state and has registered a turnover of Rs 650 crore during last fiscal. The society’s diversified interest now includes UL CyberPark, the first IT park to be set up by a labour cooperative society and UL Technology Solutions (ULTS) which provides IT solutions and UL Education.
With an aim to pay tribute and inspire all women’s around the globe, International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8. This day also focuses on the importance of gender equality.
This year, Times of India honours all women, who stand shoulder to shoulder with men. TOI salutes the unsung homemakers and celebrates their efforts to keep everybody at home happy and contended.
Born into a family of professionals and married into a business family, Mridula Jain worked from home for 10 years teaching students. A creative idea struck Jain when she realized the demand of Pashmina and Toosh shawls, which were becoming rare and expensive. She then threw a challenge to her friend, “I will create something that will make you forget Pashmina and Toosh.” In 1987, Shingora Shawls was born. Jain started her unit with 8 handlooms while her husband helped in marketing her creations. Her next initiative was Wool Woollens Export Promotion Council. As chairperson of the Shawl club of India, she has worked on in various important issues and is now a member of the steering committee of handloom and handicraft sector for 12th Five-Year Plan in the Planning Commission.
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