Sri Mahalakshmi Polytechnic College

This polytechnic college is right on the Cuddalore to Chidambaram Main Road. It’s a very busy stretch of road with lots of buses and lorries passing by all day long. You can smell the salt in the air sometimes because the coast isn't too far away. The building is quite spread out because we need space for the different technical workshops and labs. We have many students who come in from the smaller villages around Cuddalore Tamil Nadu. They usually arrive on their cycles or take the local government buses that stop nearby. The labs have various machines and tools that the students use for their practical work. It’s a hands-on kind of place, so you’ll often see people with grease on their hands or carrying technical drawings. The sun can be really strong here, so we appreciate the shade from the few trees we have on the property. We have a small canteen where everyone goes for tea or a quick snack during the mid-morning break. It’s not a quiet place, between the road noise and the sound of machines running in the workshops. Most of our staff have been here for years and they know the local area very well. We just focus on getting the classes done and making sure the equipment is working. It’s a regular part of life on the main road, and we just keep the doors open for anyone wanting to learn a trade. There is always something being fixed or built by the students in the workshops.