K.K.R. Mills

K.K.R. Mills is situated in Okkal, which is just near Kalady. It’s a bit of a trek to get out here if you aren't from the area, but it’s a good spot for a mill because of the space we have. The surroundings are a bit more green than what you’d find in the city, though once you get inside the mill, it’s all business. There’s a constant low drone from the machinery that you can hear even before you walk through the main gates. We handle a lot of grain and other materials, so there is usually a fine layer of dust on everything, and you have to be careful where you step. Most of our workers live nearby in the Okkal area, so it feels like a very local operation where everyone knows each other’s families. We spend the day monitoring the machines, making sure nothing gets jammed, and bagging up the finished product for transport. The trucks come in and out through the day, picking up loads to take into Kalady or further out. It’s not the kind of job where you sit down much; there’s always something that needs to be moved or checked. Sometimes when it rains heavily, the sound on the roof is so loud we can’t even hear ourselves talk, so we just focus on our tasks in silence. It’s a simple, hardworking environment where we focus on getting the milling done right so we can get home for dinner on time.