Sri Balaji Modern Rice Mill

If you head out to Poovani Village, you’ll find us at number 280 in Meenachipuram. Sri Balaji Modern Rice Mill is where we spend all our time. It’s a loud place because the machines are always running, turning the raw paddy into rice. There’s always a bit of dust in the air, no matter how much we sweep up. It’s a village business, so everyone around here knows the sound of our engines starting up in the morning. We don't have a big corporate structure. It’s just us, some local workers, and the farmers who bring their trucks in from the surrounding fields. We’ve had this mill for a long time, and the building shows its age, but the machinery inside works just fine. We don't spend money on fancy signs or advertising. The quality of the grain is what brings people back, and that’s enough for us to keep the lights on. Sometimes the power goes out, and everything stops, which gives us a chance to sit outside and chat for a bit. Those are the best parts of the day, really. Meenachipuram is a small community, and we feel like a part of it. We just want to keep the mill running and provide for our families. It’s hard work, and your back hurts at the end of the day, but it’s what we do and it feels right to us.