Jabalpur's Saksham Jain Built a Handloom Business From Scratch, Now Earning in Lakhs Every Month Saksham Jain started his handloom unit in Panagar, Jabalpur with just one machine, and today runs a business worth lakhs of rupees every month. In Panagar, a small town in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district, Saksham Jain has turned a modest one-machine venture into a thriving handloom business that now supplies natural cotton fabric to buyers across the country. His unit, Khajanchi Handloom, makes sarees, suits, shirting material, towels and bedsheets entirely from pure cotton yarn without any chemical dyes, and the story shows how patience, proper training and a bit of government support can turn a one-person effort into something that touches hundreds of livelihoods. A journey that began with a single loom ten years ago Saksham says he set up this venture roughly 10 years back, starting out with just one handloom machine. Resources were tight in the early days, but he kept at it and gradually expanded the operation. To master the craft, he travelled to the Bina-Vara area of Sagar district for specialised training before returning to Panagar to launch his own unit under the name Khajanchi Handloom. Government handloom department gave the business a push According to Saksham, the district handloom office in Jabalpur played a key role in scaling up the work by supplying him two modern machines worth about Rs 24,000 each. That support helped him become self-reliant and, in turn, create jobs for several women from the surrounding area. Women trained under the state's skill upgradation scheme have also found employment at Khajanchi Handloom, giving many local women a path to their own income and financial independence. No chemical dyes, no electricity, just handwork The unit's sarees, suits, shirting, towels and bedsheets are all woven from natural cotton yarn, including distinctive jacquard, booti and Maheshwari saree patterns. What sets these products apart is that none of them are made using chemical dyes or electric power. A single saree takes between four and eight days to finish by hand, and prices range from Rs 1,200 to Rs 15,000 depending on the design. Buyers as far away as Delhi and Bengaluru Beyond Jabalpur, demand for these handwoven products has spread to big city markets including Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Indore and Sagar, where they are selling in sizable quantities. That growing reach outside the local market has been a major driver behind the business's expansion. From a family grocery store to a lakhs-a-month enterprise Saksham's family once ran a grocery shop with limited earnings. Today, he personally nets between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh every month from the handloom unit, while the business's overall monthly turnover has climbed to somewhere between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh. The artisans and workers employed at the unit are also earning between Rs 18,000 and Rs 25,000 a month, income that is changing the fortunes of several families in the area. What this means for you The story shows how a traditional handloom business can still become a solid source of income with the right government support and hard work. • Across India: This example can encourage handloom artisans and small textile entrepreneurs elsewhere to tap government schemes and scale up their own units. • In Jabalpur: Women and local artisans in areas like Panagar are getting direct earning opportunities of Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000 every month. Questions & Answers 1. Who is Saksham Jain? Saksham Jain runs Khajanchi Handloom in Panagar, Jabalpur district, making sarees, suits, shirting, towels and bedsheets from natural cotton yarn. 2. When did he start this business? He started roughly 10 years ago with just a single handloom machine. 3. Where did he get his training? He travelled to the Bina-Vara area of Sagar district for specialised weaving training. 4. What government support did he receive? The district handloom office in Jabalpur supplied him two modern machines worth about Rs 24,000 each. 5. How long does it take to make a saree and what does it cost? A saree takes four to eight days to finish by hand and costs between Rs 1,200 and Rs 15,000. 6. Where is there demand for these products? Besides Jabalpur, they are in demand in cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Indore and Sagar. 7. How much is Saksham Jain earning now? He nets Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh a month personally, while the business's total monthly turnover is Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. 8. How much do his workers earn? The artisans and workers at his unit earn between Rs 18,000 and Rs 25,000 a month. Inspiration & Lessons Saksham Jain's journey shows how a small start, backed by the right effort, can grow into a full-fledged business. • Starting with just one machine and refusing to give up while scaling up gradually. • Travelling for proper training to sharpen the craft instead of relying only on self-learning. • Making the most of government support and department schemes to add resources. • Creating employment for local women and artisans alongside his own growth. • Building a distinct market identity around pure, chemical-free and electricity-free products. https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/jabalpur-ke-saksham-jain-ne-hathakaragha-se-banai-pahachana-mahine-men-kama-rahe-lakhon-rupae-9003 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.