Sri Vinayaga Hollow Block

Sri Vinayaga Hollow Block is out at 850, Irrendalaiparai. This is a rural spot where the air is a bit clearer but the work is definitely harder. We have a large open yard where we make all our blocks. It is a very hands-on process. We mix the concrete, pour it into the molds, and then let them set. There is a lot of heavy lifting involved. My clothes are usually stained with grey dust by ten in the morning. We don't have a fancy office. Most of our business happens right there in the yard or under the small tin roof we put up for shade. People from the surrounding villages come here when they are building a wall or a small shed. They bring their own tractors or small trucks to pick up the loads. We just count out the blocks and help them load up. It's a lot of sweating and hard work, especially when the sun is directly overhead in the afternoon. We don't have a marketing team or anything like that. We just rely on the fact that we’ve been here at Irrendalaiparai for years and people know where to find us. The ground is always a bit uneven and covered in gravel. It’s not a pretty place, but it’s where we get the blocks made every single day. We finish up when the sun goes down.