Social and Economic Contribution of the BABINA Group

 

Impact on social and economic development of the region

BABINA Group in all the different units taken together employs around 1000 staff. This is significant in the backdrop of the acute unemployment problem that has been plaguing the region for the past many years. BABINA Diagnostics currently has 100 Authorised Collection Centres/Franchisees in and outside Manipur and these centres play the role of ancillary units by making diagnostic services accessible to people in far flung areas. Besides providing employment, these franchisee units have been providing invaluable service by making the much-needed diagnostic services available to the people in rural and interior areas without the patients having to travel long distances to BABINA Diagnostics. With the availability of all basic as well as high-end diagnostic tests and investigations in BABINA Diagnostics at affordable rates, people do not need to go to distant metropolitan or other cities for undergoing these tests. The establishment of BABINA Diagnostics and The Classic Group of Hotels have been directly beneficial to smaller business establishments in the state. The value chain created has been beneficial to other business units, right from the printing press, the chemicals/reagents dealers, the transport agencies, the travel agencies, facility management companies, the stationery items dealers, to name a few. The fact that BABINA Diagnostics is the first NABL accredited laboratory in the entire Northeast is a matter of pride for the people of Manipur. It is significant because of the availability of world-class diagnostic facilities at cheaper rates (as compared to those in laboratories in metropolitan cities) and at faster reporting time to the people in the region.

The establishment of The Classic Hotel was with a view to exploit the still-untapped tourism potential of this beautiful state of Manipur. The lack of good hotels in the state had long been a deterrent to attracting tourists. With the establishment of The Classic Hotel and other hotel units under the group – Imphal Hotel by The Classic and Classic Grande, the visitors to the state can now be assured of a truly world class and state-of-the-art hospitality facility. These hotels are now the preferred choice for most tourists and officials visiting the state which is a testimony to its unparalleled services. It has given a significant push to the tourism industry which will result in good economic benefits for the entire region in the long run.

 

Corporate Social Responsibilities:

 Activities of the Company

  • BABINA Diagnostics and the “Free from Hepatitis C” project
    • In the recent years, Manipur has seen an alarming increase in the number of Hepatitis C-positive patients. The scenario is pretty much the same in other states of the Northeast. BABINA Diagnostics has partnered with Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), an NGO who has been spearheading the “Free from Hepatitis C” campaign in Imphal.
    • As part of the “Free from Hepatitis C Project”, Free Hepatitis C Screening Camps are held throughout the state in all the districts. Till the ending of June 2018, as many as 2137 people have availed of this free testing scheme. This is an ongoing project conducted in collaboration with CoNE Manipur and aims to cover all sections of the population in every corner of the state.
    • BABINA Diagnostics has also been sponsoring free diagnostic tests for Hepatitis C positive inmates at Central Jail, Sajiwa. This is also an ongoing project, and in the first phase that ended in November 2017, as many as 50 inmates have been covered so far for this free scheme.
    • BABINA Diagnostics has also been sponsoring free diagnostic tests for Hepatitis-C-positive widows. Launched in May 2016, so far 21 widows have availed of this free scheme. This is another ongoing project.

 BABINA Diagnostics and HIV/AIDS initiatives

    • Manipur is a state with a high HIV incidence rate and has been grappling with this menace for the past few decades. BABINA Diagnostics has been partnering with many NGOs working in the field of HIV/AIDS for an HIV-free Manipur. It has been working as the development partner for Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP+) in many of their projects. Besides organising free Cervical Cancer Screening on World Cancer Day every year, BABINA Diagnostics has been offering diagnostic services at subsidised rates for People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLHAs).

Subsidy in testing to various categories:

Subsidised rates on diagnostic tests for kidney transplant patients

      • All patients belonging to the All Manipur Kidney Transplant Patients’ Association (AMKTPA) are given special discounts on all tests done in BABINA Diagnostics.

Special rates of diagnostic tests for patients coming from old-age homes and orphan homes

BABINA Diagnostics has been providing diagnostic tests at subsidised rates for patients coming from old-age homes and children from orphan homes.

Subsidised rates on diagnostic tests for cancer patients

Special concessions are given to all cancer patients for all diagnostic tests conducted in BABINA Diagnostics.

Free Cervical Cancer Screening

BABINA Diagnostics in collaboration with Anjana Phukan Memorial Foundation, Guwahati has been sponsoring free Pap smear tests under the “ASMI Project” which is an initiative taken to spread the awareness of cervical cancer and to encourage regular Pap smear screening. The programme attempts to cover the entire length and breadth of the Northeast. Till June 2018 ending, the ASMI project has covered more than 5000 women for the free Pap smear tests. BABINA Diagnostics also sponsors all health camps done under this project. Free Health camps were conducted on 31st March and 1st April 2018 at two different locations in Manipur (at Kakwa and Moirang). More free health camps will be held on regular basis in other parts of Manipur too.

 

  • Promoting football by The Classic Group of Hotels
    • The company has been an avid supporter of many sports events and organisations. NEROCA Football Club (NEROCA FC) is promoted by The Classic Group of Hotels. The club has gone from strength to strength and has been the runners-up in the recently-concluded I-League (2017-18). Other achievements of the club include: winners of the I-League 2nd Division (2016-17) and runners-up in the Durand Cup (2016). Classic Football Academy takes care of grass root level football development with special emphasis to underprivileged and economically backward children is going on in full swing.
    • The company also sponsors the annual football event “Winners’ Cup” organised by All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) which is the apex governing body of football in Manipur. The sponsorship is under the name “Thangjam Birachandra – Maipkapi Memorial”.

 

  • Cleanliness drive adjoining areas of The Classic Hotel and The Classic Grande

 

  • The company has been actively pursuing its cleanliness activities in and around its hotel units. The roads and the locality in the vicinity of the hotels are litter-free.

 

  • Free dinner programmes for children from orphan homes
    • Children from Tabitha Children Home are invited for free dinners and other programmes from time to time at The Classic Hotel. Tabitha Children Home is an orphan home for children living with HIV/AIDS.

 

  • Contribution of Chief Minister’s relief fund:
  • BABINA group contributed a sum of Rs.10,00,000 (Ten lakh) only in June 2021 to Chief Minister’s relief fund. BABINA has been contributing to this relief fund from time to time.

 

  • Paamel Foundation: An initiative of Babina Group.

 

  • BABINA Group and Covid 19:

To support Government’s drive against COVID19 by vaccination of the eligible population, BABINA Diagnostics and BABINA Oncology and Super-specialty hospital conducted FREE vaccination. A total of 1500 people were vaccinated.

Besides, BABINA diagnostics and BABINA Hospital participated in the fight against Covid19 by testing samples using RTPCR technology and Covid treatment with ICU facilities respectively. BABINA Diagnostics partnered with Institute of Bioresource Development (IBSD) in genome sequencing of SARS COV2 by providing positive sample extracts with CT value less than 25.