Vajra Rice Mill

If you walk down Railway Station Road in Yerramukkapalli, you’ll probably hear the machines running before you see the mill. Our place is at 5-16-92, and it’s been there for years now. It gets really loud inside when the hulling is going on, so we usually have to shout to be heard over the noise of the motors. The air is always full of that sweet, dusty smell of paddy being processed. Farmers bring their loads in on trailers or small tractors, and we get to work. It’s hard work, especially when it’s hot outside and the metal roof of the shed starts to heat up. We’ve got a couple of regular guys who handle the heavy sacks because my back isn't what it used to be. Sometimes the power goes out, and everything just stops, which is frustrating when we have a lot of grain waiting. We just sit outside on the stone steps until the lights come back on. Being near the station means there’s always people moving around, and the trains going by add to the racket. We don’t do any fancy packaging here. It’s just about getting the rice cleaned and ready for the local shops. The floor is always covered in husks no matter how much we sweep it. That is just the way a mill is. We keep going until the last load is done.