Shaknar Cement Centre

We are set up in Sirdala, right near the Block Office. It’s a good spot because everyone coming to do their government work passes by our door. The shop is a basic structure with a corrugated metal roof that gets really loud when it rains. We mostly sell cement to the local farmers and villagers who are adding a room to their house or fixing a wall. It’s a slow-paced life here compared to the big cities. We sit out on wooden benches when it’s not too dusty. The Block Office brings in a lot of foot traffic, so there is always someone to talk to. We keep the cement bags stacked high in the shade so they stay dry. The air in Sirdala is usually okay, but inside the shop, the smell of lime and cement is quite strong. We don't have a computer, so we do everything by hand in big registers. Sometimes the power is out for half the day, but we don't need much light to talk to customers or count out change. It’s a simple business. We know most of the people who come in by their first names. We’ve been here for years, just across from the main road, watching the buffaloes and tractors go by. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s what we do to keep things going for our families. On Saturdays, it gets especially busy when everyone has their day off.