Impact on society

BABINA Group and its impact on society

The BABINA Group has emerged as one of the most significant private-sector institutions in Manipur, contributing meaningfully to healthcare, hospitality, tourism, social welfare, employment generation, skill development, and youth inspiration. The group represents a rare example of local entrepreneurship growing into a multi-sector institution that serves both economic and social needs in the state. Its work has shown that private enterprise, when rooted in public purpose, can become a powerful force for social transformation.

Contribution to Healthcare

One of the BABINA Group’s most significant contributions has been in healthcare. Through Babina Diagnostics, Babina Hospital, Babina Speciality Hospital, and other healthcare ventures, the group has helped bring modern medical services closer to the people of Manipur. BABINA Diagnostics, established in 1983, is known for introducing modern laboratory and imaging services in the state, reducing the need for many patients to travel outside Manipur for diagnostic tests. This has not only saved patients time and money but also helped retain healthcare spending within the state.

The establishment of hospitals under the BABINA Group has strengthened Manipur’s medical infrastructure. BABINA Hospital is a multispecialty healthcare facility in Imphal. More significantly, BABINA Speciality Hospital, developed in collaboration with the American Oncology Institute, has advanced cancer care and super-speciality treatment in the region. It is described as a 100-bed cancer and super-speciality hospital and has helped make advanced cancer treatment more accessible within Manipur. This is especially important because cancer patients in the Northeast often face financial, emotional, and logistical difficulties when forced to travel to distant cities for treatment. The group has also expanded healthcare capacity through new hospital projects, including a 200-bed multispecialty hospital and a nursing institute. These initiatives are important not only for treatment but also for developing the next generation of healthcare professionals in Manipur. By investing in medical infrastructure, diagnostics, oncology, and training, the Babina Group has helped reduce the healthcare gap between Manipur and larger metropolitan regions.

The group’s contribution is also evident in its approach to affordability and public health. BABINA Diagnostics has been noted for offering affordable diagnostic services to low- and middle-income families. It has also provided free culture and species testing for tuberculosis patients registered under DOTS. In 2026, Babina Healthcare Facilities announced subsidised diagnostic and treatment concessions for accredited journalists in Manipur. These initiatives show that the group’s healthcare mission extends beyond business expansion to include service to vulnerable and working sections of society.

Contribution to Hospitality and Tourism

The BABINA Group has also played a pioneering role in Manipur’s hospitality sector through the Classic Group of Hotels. Its properties include The Classic Hotel, Classic Grande, Hotel Imphal by The Classic, and Sendra Park & Resort. The Classic Hotel, opened in 2009, has been described as Imphal’s first three-star hotel, while Classic Grande, opened in 2015, strengthened the state’s higher-end hospitality infrastructure.

These hotels and resorts have strengthened Manipur’s tourism ecosystem by offering quality accommodation, professional service standards, conference spaces, and reliable hospitality facilities. For a state like Manipur, with great tourism potential due to its natural beauty, culture, history, sports, handloom, food, and festivals, hospitality infrastructure is essential. Without good hotels and resorts, tourism cannot grow sustainably. The BABINA Group has therefore helped build the physical and service foundation required to attract tourists, business travellers, officials, researchers, artists, and event participants. Sendra Park & Resort, located near Loktak Lake, is particularly significant because Loktak is one of Manipur’s most iconic natural attractions. By developing hospitality infrastructure around such destinations, the group has supported tourism beyond Imphal’s urban centre and helped showcase Manipur’s natural heritage.

The group has also contributed to the growth of medical tourism. By integrating healthcare facilities with quality hospitality services, BABINA Group has helped position Manipur as a destination where people from neighbouring states and regions can seek treatment while also accessing comfortable accommodation and support services. Government publications have recognised the group’s role in strengthening medical tourism through its healthcare and hospitality units. The Manipur Tourism Forum further underscores the group’s broader commitment to tourism promotion. This shows that the group’s contribution extends beyond hotels to advocacy, institution-building, and leadership in the tourism sector.

Employment Generation

The BABINA Group has made a significant contribution to employment generation in Manipur. In a state where unemployment, especially among educated youth, remains a serious concern, the creation of stable jobs across healthcare, hospitality, tourism, administration, transport, maintenance, food services, security, housekeeping, nursing, and allied sectors has strong social importance. The Babina Group and Classic Group together directly employ about 1,300 to 1,400 people, with roughly 300 more supported indirectly through taxis, suppliers, franchises, and related services. These figures show that the group is not merely a business enterprise but a major organised-sector employer in Manipur.

The indirect employment generated by the group is equally important. Hotels require local farmers, food suppliers, transport operators, laundry services, maintenance workers, artisans, event managers, decorators, travel agents, and many other support services. Hospitals require pharmacies, medical suppliers, ambulance services, technicians, cleaners, administrative staff, and trained medical personnel. Through this network, the Babina Group supports a wider local economy beyond its own employees. Employment generation also has social impact. A stable job gives young people dignity, income, discipline, exposure, and hope. It supports families, improves living standards, and reduces dependence on government jobs. In a conflict-affected and economically challenged state like Manipur, such private-sector employment has a stabilising effect on society.

Skill Development and Youth Empowerment

The BABINA Group has also contributed to youth empowerment through skill development. The Classic Hospitality Training Institute, established under Babina Healthcare & Hospitality Industries Pvt. Ltd., is a major initiative in this regard. It was established in 2013 and expanded with a second centre at Hotel Imphal in 2019. The institute is affiliated with the Tourism & Hospitality Sector Skill Council and provides structured training in hospitality skills for youth.  This is an important contribution because many young people in Manipur are educated yet lack job-oriented professional training. By offering hospitality training, the group helps bridge the gap between education and employability. The institute prepares youth for employment in hotels, resorts, restaurants, tourism services, and customer-facing industries. Many trainees from the institute have been placed at various companies and institutions.

The group’s participation in apprenticeship and employment schemes also strengthens youth development. Classic Hotel and Classic Grande have been listed by the Manipur Labour and Employment Department as registered apprenticeship establishments for ITI-trained youth. This demonstrates the group’s contribution to formal skill-building pathways and practical workplace learning. Skill development has long-term social value. It helps young people become financially independent, improves service standards in Manipur, and reduces pressure on government jobs. It also promotes the dignity of labour and professional discipline. For many young people, seeing a local enterprise create jobs and training opportunities within Manipur can be deeply inspiring.

Social Work, Public Welfare and Sports

The BABINA Group’s social contribution is also evident in its public welfare initiatives. Its healthcare concessions, free tuberculosis testing support, affordable diagnostic services, and subsidised care for journalists demonstrate a commitment to serving society beyond commercial considerations.  The group has also promoted early screening for diseases such as cancer, HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases as part of its health outreach and social responsibility initiatives. These initiatives are crucial in a state where awareness, early diagnosis, and access to specialised treatment can significantly improve health outcomes. Social work should not be understood only as charity. In the case of the BABINA Group, social work also includes building institutions that serve society: hospitals, diagnostic centres, hotels, training institutes, employment systems, and tourism platforms. These institutions create long-term benefits and continue serving people year after year.

Sponsoring NEROCA Football Club and introducing it to the I-League were important milestones in Manipur’s sporting history, a football-crazy state. Paamel Foundation, sponsored by BABINA Group, promotes Classic Football Academy, which nurtures grassroots football in the state. A Table-Tennis Academy is in the offing.

Contribution to Economic Development

The BABINA Group has contributed to Manipur’s economy by creating local enterprises across sectors essential to development. Healthcare and hospitality are service industries with strong multiplier effects. A hospital not only treats patients; it creates jobs, attracts professionals, supports suppliers, and improves quality of life. A hotel not only hosts guests; it supports tourism, events, local food systems, transport, and cultural exchange. By building major enterprises in Manipur, the group has helped reduce dependence on external institutions. It has shown that high-quality healthcare, hospitality, and professional services can be developed locally. This helps retain money, talent, and confidence within the state.

The group’s continued operation during difficult periods is also significant. Manipur has faced unrest and instability, affecting tourism, hotel occupancy, and business conditions. Yet Babina Group has remained an important employer and service provider in the state’s organised sector. This resilience contributes to economic continuity and public confidence.

Inspiration to Youth and Entrepreneurs

Perhaps one of the BABINA Group’s most powerful contributions is the inspiration it offers to Manipur’s youth. The journey from a medical professional to a successful entrepreneur demonstrates that it is possible to build large, meaningful institutions from within Manipur. The example challenges the belief that success must always come from leaving the state.

For young people, the BABINA Group embodies the idea that local dreams can grow into large institutions. It shows that entrepreneurship can be rooted in service, that business can create social impact, and that Manipur has the potential to produce world-class institutions across healthcare, hospitality, tourism, and training. Confronted with challenging and unstable circumstances, choosing to pursue aspirations and leaving behind the comfort and security of government employment was certainly a landmark decision. Our resilience and unwavering determination should serve as an inspiration to others. 

The group also inspires young people to pursue skill-based careers. Hospitality training, apprenticeships, healthcare employment, and exposure to professional work culture help young people build confidence, discipline, and employable skills. This is especially important in a society where many young people face uncertainty, unemployment, and limited opportunities.

Overall Impact on Manipur

The BABINA Group’s impact on Manipur is multidimensional. In healthcare, it has improved access to diagnostics, cancer care, multispecialty treatment, and affordable services. In hospitality, it has raised service standards and strengthened tourism infrastructure. In employment, it has created direct and indirect livelihood opportunities for thousands of people. In skill development, it has trained youth and enhanced employability. In social welfare, it has supported public health, concessions, and community-oriented services. In entrepreneurship, it has become a symbol of local possibility and self-reliance.

The BABINA Group’s contribution is therefore not confined to a single sector. It has helped shape modern Manipur by building institutions that serve people, create employment, promote tourism, support healthcare, and inspire young citizens. Its journey reflects the power of vision, hard work, and social commitment. For Manipur, the BABINA Group stands as an example of how private enterprise can contribute not only to economic growth but also to public welfare, social stability, and the dreams of future generations.