Naimish Adhunik Dal Mill

The mill sits right in the Industrial State of Village Alladadpur Sidhauli. Most mornings start early here when the air is still a bit cool before the sun gets too high. We spend a lot of time just checking the machines and making sure the pulses are moving through the system right. It gets pretty dusty inside the building by noon, so we usually keep the big doors open for some air. There are a few of us who have been working here for years now. We know the sound the mill makes when something needs oiling or if a belt is getting loose. People from the village walk by on their way to other jobs and sometimes stop to chat for a minute. Sidhauli is a quiet enough place but the industrial area stays busy with trucks coming in and out. We load the sacks of dal onto the back of the tempos and watch them drive off down the bumpy road. It isn't fancy work, but it keeps us occupied from Monday to Saturday. Sometimes the electricity goes out and we have to sit outside in the shade until it comes back on. That’s just how it is around here. We try to keep the floors swept, but with so much grain moving around, it’s a constant battle. The shed roof makes a lot of noise when it rains hard in the monsoon. Mostly we just focus on getting the work done and heading home before it gets dark.