Jai Sri Balaji Rice Mills

Our mill is on Amapur Road, and we are quite close to the Mandi Samiti in Kanshiram Nagar. Being near the Mandi means there is always a lot of movement around here, especially during the peak season when everyone is trying to sell their crops. The road is often clogged with bullock carts and tractor-trolleys full of golden grain. Inside our gates, it’s a bit of a different world. We have the big sheds where the rice is processed and stored. The roof is made of corrugated tin, so when it rains, you can’t hear yourself think because of the drumming sound. Most of the staff has been around for a long time, so we don't have to say much to get the work done. We know which machine needs a bit of grease and which one is running smooth. We keep a big pot of water near the entrance for anyone who is thirsty. The dust is a part of life here, it’s in our hair and on our clothes by the time we go home. We have a small room that serves as an office where the paperwork gets done on a rickety wooden table. The fan there wobbles a lot but it keeps the flies away. We take things as they come, dealing with the daily problems of broken belts or late deliveries. It isn't a glamorous life, but it’s what we know how to do in this part of town.