Shivkumar Metal Products

Our place is at 3952 in the Kamakshi Palya Industrial Area. It’s quite easy to find if you look for the Pooja Kalyana Mantapa, we are very close to that wedding hall. Being in an industrial area means there is always a lot of noise. We have machines running for making metal parts. It gets quite loud, so you have to shout a bit to be heard over the press. The floor is concrete and usually has some oil spots. We make various small items out of metal. It’s not a glamorous job. We wear old clothes because everything gets stained. The wedding hall nearby is a good landmark, especially on weekends when the street gets blocked by cars and guests. We usually start early in the morning before the sun gets too high. There is a small window at the back that lets in some light, but mostly we use the overhead lamps. The guys working here have been with me for a long time. We eat our lunch together in the corner where it’s a bit quieter. Sometimes the power goes out and we have to wait around for it to come back. We don't do much advertising. People just know we are here in this block. It’s a lot of metal shavings and heavy lifting every day, but that is just part of the routine.