Maa Raksha Kali Rice Mill

Our mill is located in Hattala, right in the Orgram area of Purba Burdwan. It’s a quiet place compared to the big cities, surrounded by fields where all the paddy comes from. My father started this mill years ago because rice is what everyone eats here. We spend our days watching the machines hull the grain. It gets very loud inside the building when everything is running. There’s always a bit of dust in the air from the husks. Farmers from around Bhatar bring their harvests to us on tractor trolleys. Sometimes the yard is full of sacks waiting to be processed. We don't have a big office or anything, just a desk and a few chairs for when neighbors stop by to talk about the weather or the crop prices. The weather really affects how we work, especially during the rains when it’s hard to keep things dry. We’ve had to fix the old machinery more times than I can count. It’s honest work, even if it’s tiring. My brother helps with the loading and I handle the paperwork. We aren't trying to be the biggest mill in Bengal, just keeping the local supply moving for the community. You can smell the fresh rice when you walk through the gate. It’s a smell I’ve known my whole life. We stay open late during harvest season because that's when the work needs doing and there is no time to rest until the sacks are all stored safely.