Manik Batra, the man behind revolutionizing J&K’s business and healthcare landscape

Doing business has always been second nature for Manik Batra. With over 17 years of experience, the scion of the Batra Group of Industries sits on its Board of Directors and helms the healthcare and automobile verticals of a business spanning various other fields like education, transportation, and petroleum services.

His knowledge and experience over the years coupled with diversification in various industries, allow him to operate at a vantage point that many do not have. This puts him in a pivotal position to lead the ASSOCHAM J&K Council as its Chairman, a responsibility he takes with great pride.

Nestled in the hills of Sidhra, Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences & Hospital (ASCOMS) has long been a beacon of premier healthcare services in Jammu. It has constantly shaped and reshaped the healthcare landscape in the city and the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Boasting of top of line tie-ups with organizations like the American Oncology Institute and Artemis Gurgaon, along with state-of-the-art technology and science brought to the doorsteps of all, Batra has long been the go-to healthcare facility for the people of Jammu.

Manik believes that the scope for healthcare in Jammu and Kashmir is vast as there is not a lot of private investment in the field. This has driven him to find specializations within the medical field that the public can benefit from. It is no wonder then, that Manik is regarded as the brains behind the influence the Batra group has on the healthcare ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Immediately after the onset of COVID, the Indian Government did a lot of work in improving and strengthening the healthcare systems across the nation. J&K was the best managed,” Batra says adding, “healthcare is a field that one can never acquire perfection in as there is always a scope for improvement with technological and scientific advancements every day.”

One of the next specializations he is focusing on is mental health. “It has become very important to focus on mental well-being, especially after COVID which has negatively impacted everyone’s mental health. Many who suffer from depression and anxiety require customized monitoring.

Even before COVID, societal pressure especially on children and their careers has created a situation that required mental health interventions for many. Parents have slowly evolved to understand that undue pressures in today’s world are negatively impacting children. This is making many seek the open discussion and counseling needed to ensure that their children emerge healthy from the pressure to perfect their careers at an early age.”

His concern for the well-being of future generations merges perfectly with his role as the chairman of the ASSOCHAM council in J&K. He believes that guiding the youth is pivotal in helping shape the future of business and job opportunities available here.

“It is important that the youth should consider the scope of fields that they are studying and training for. What might have seemed like a golden opportunity in the past may be too saturated to be successful today. This is why the youth needs to take the time to do their research.”

Manik Batra believes that entrepreneurship might be the most beneficial in empowering many.“In today’s age, the world has been reduced to the palm of our hands. What a person does in J&K can be projected to the world and vice versa in a matter of seconds. This makes venturing into startups an exciting proposition. There is an excellent scope for startups in J&K. One just has to be open to exploring different avenues available here naturally. For example, we are one of the largest apple producers in the country with up to 70% of produce coming from Jammu and Kashmir. This opens up a lot of opportunities for those who can pivot into an aggregation of supply for products across the country.”

He also espouses the benefits tourism has on similar business opportunities. “J&K is a big touristdestination. From Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to Gulmarg, we have tourists visiting us fromall over the world throughout the year. Moreover, there are many destinations that are still unexplored. Both these facts open up a vast array of opportunities, especially for the youth to explore.

Batra believes that India is a significant destination for investments and the start-up ecosystem will positively benefit those who deep dive into it. “We are the youngest population in the world. Countries like Japan which are tech leaders right now have an aging population. This opens up our youth to ample opportunities as long as they are ready to do the research and hard work required to make a mark. Even in J&K, we have many innovative minds, but they need proper
exposure, platforms, and financial support. There are many government startup schemes and incubators which help to start a business. Research them, and they will help start a business.”

While he wholeheartedly encourages entrepreneurship, he also adds a word of caution.“Research is everything because one stands to lose their own money if they do not do the proper analysis required to make their business a success. Nothing exists in a vacuum so it is very important to understand the market, its needs, and our competitors before jumping in headfirst.”

“Getting emotional is one of the biggest deterrents in business. One must be convinced that they are solving a problem and will be able to do it well in the long run. Just because Zomato is doing well, it doesn’t mean a local option doing food delivery will be a success as well. Giants in the market will automatically impose a large competition over a venture. While entering a market, research of scope is most important. Even if one gains initial success, if there is no year on year
growth, a thing as simple as losing motivation can heavily impact businesses,” Manik says, reminding that everything takes time to grow and everyone must buckle in for a long ride if they are to start their own ventures.

Manik believes that families must support and encourage their children to look at new avenues together. “Every child is different. The success of one in a particular field does not assure someone else will be able to strike gold in the same field as well. This is where research will always remain paramount. Families must come together to ensure that we equip our future generations for success not saddle them with pressure” Manik shares that excellence is the eventual destination of hard work. “If you have faith in yourself and want to do something, it takes little time, but you definitely excel.”

Related Posts