THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
(Set up by an act of parliament) NASHIK BRANCH (WIRC)
(Set up by an act of parliament) NASHIK BRANCH (WIRC)
Namaste Members,
As I approach the conclusion of my tenure as Chairman for the year 2024-25, this shall be my last communication as the Chairman of Nashik Branch. The opportunity to head this vibrant branch is indeed a great honour and I am really mesmerized by the strength of the profession, its pursuit of continuous growth, working steadfastly to inspire trust and confidence amongst the society and the nation. When I took over as the Chairman of Nashik branch, one of the most vibrant branches of the Institute, I was determined to work for my alma mater, for the betterment of the profession and nurture the trust, respect & dignity of the profession. Within this course of time, I have drawn wisdom from the experiences and enthusiasm of the members and students. As I look back, I am filled with pride that the Branch has not only grown leaps and bounds but has also laid the path for a much brighter tomorrow.
This memorable journey was possible due to the untiring support from my colleagues in the Managing Committee, the branch nominee, the WICASA team and all the members and students of the Nashik Branch who have contributed their time and hard work to the Institute and its activities. Also, the unwavering support of the members of the Central and Regional councils who have always been by my side as a strong support. As I look back, I am lucky to have an amazing team of my colleagues in the managing committee and staff of the Branch. With their able support the Branch has maintained its pursuit of excellence by reimagining and realigning the activities of the branch and the image of the profession.
As I reckon upon the year passed by, let us revisit some of the remarkable events that took place during the year.
Sub-regional Conference “गोदामंथन”
I am privileged to have received the opportunity to host one of the most prestigious events of WIRC, the Sub-Regional Conference this year. We are honoured to have the WIRC team by our side in making this event one of the most impactful events of the year all over the region. The event was a great success and I am happy that we as a team were able to share knowledge and experience with the members of the branch. The event marked the address of Mr. Rajabhau Waje, the elected Member of Parliament of our constituency and the same was greatly acknowledged by the audience. The grand conference marked the attendance of more than 500 Chartered Accountants from across the region and the conference was a true churning of knowledge at the banks of river Godavari. I sincerely thank the Managing Committee and especially the Branch Nominee who played a pivotal role in shaping this conference into a pioneer event.
State Level Students Conference “Nirvart”
The year has been great with the students committee being active throughout the year and the feather in the cap was the Students Conference where more than 350 students participated with full zeal and enthusiasm. The conference was filled with the students presenting papers on various topics and the experts from various fields of finance and startups gracing the event. It was one of a kind conference where the WICASA committee came together to leave no stone unturned. The events like these not only bring up the knowledge sharing but also build the creativity and confidence amongst the students. The future of our fraternity is the students and I would say that seeing the participation and activeness of the students, it fills our body with great inspiration to do more for the betterment of the profession.
Women CA Leadership Conclave
This year we at Nashik Branch envisioned to take part in the initiative along with the Women Empowerment Committee of ICAI wherein a conference was organized to share the experiences and develop leadership among the Women Chartered Accountants. The event was very well appreciated and we are glad that more than 100 women members participated and graced the event with great enthusiasm. Today our finance minister is a woman leading the nation through a growing economy and our women fraternity is working hand in hand with our motto of being the partner in nation building.
Initiatives for Well Being of Members & their family
With the commitment of the committee towards the knowledge enrichment of the members and students, this year many initiatives were undertaken for the mental and physical well being of the members and the family. Apart from regular health checkup and blood donation camps, this year cancer screening tests were conducted wherein more than 500 members took benefit and I am glad that I was a part of this drive where we could serve the members. Health is the foremost part to be taken care of in this competitive world and the increasing work hours that are being put by us, we should see that we maintain our physical and mental wellbeing at the highest level.
Social Initiatives
During the year ICAI has launched ICAI#75 Green Mahotsav, an initiative that underscores our commitment to the nation in the pivotal area of environmental sustainability. This initiative is closely aligned with the Prime Minister\'s vision of \"Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam\" honoring the nurturing power of nature. To honour our responsibility towards nature we distributed more than 150 plants on the occasion of Independence Day. Also, on the occasion of World Environment Day, Nashik Branch had organized a cleanliness drive wherein more than 40 tons of garbage was collected and we applaud the participation of more than 100 members and students in this drive where we shared our responsibility towards mother nature. Also, many initiatives were conducted during the year like awareness for voting, mental and physical wellbeing, financial and investment awareness amongst the general public, etc.
Seminars & Workshops
During the year a variety of seminars, conferences, workshops, post qualification courses, etc. were conducted with more than 100 CPE hours being provided. Events were conducted on a vast variety of topics covering Direct & Indirect Taxes, Auditing & Assurance, Code of ethics, mental wellbeing, MSMEs and startups, practice management, industry specific topics, Capital market, Artificial Intelligence, etc, during the year. This year the focus of the Institute was on development of the use of AI by Chartered Accountants and with the response that we have received towards the AI workshops and course, it showed that we are there to not only embrace the change but also master it. The participation and response of the members was a great inspiration to conduct the events and I hope that we have given our best in delivering and sharing the knowledge with the members.
Campus Placement Drive
We are proud to have conducted a Campus placement drive for the fresher Chartered Accountants wherein more than 15 companies participated and many young CAs were placed. Big corporates like HDFC Credila Ltd, Winjit Technologies and Ashoka Buildcon Ltd. participated as employers and were overwhelmed with the candidates and we hope that we have been able to fulfill the expectations of the employers. This was an event envisioned by us to help the young CAs who are searching jobs and nurture them in starting their career path. The first job is one of the most important steps in the career path and it’s the one that paves the road ahead in one’s professional career. We are honoured that we were able to help the young minds in taking their first step and help them experience the process of placement in their journey of finding the right career.
Initiatives for Students
Apart from the mega event of students’ conference, many programs were organized for students throughout the year. The year was filled with many educational programs viz. seminars on Income Tax, GST, Bank Audit, Soft skills development, English speaking skills, Industrial visits, conferences, MCS, ITT, orientation courses, coaching classes for Intermediate and Final, workshops, etc. The WICASA team was active throughout the year and the active participation of the students was key to such successful programs. Apart from these, the students actively showed their talent in quiz competition, Pitch Deck competition, Paper Presentation, Debate, Sketching, extempore, etc. The true talent was tested in these events and the participants have emerged very well with winning and also performing at regional and national levels in the National Talent search competitions held. Such events not only build the confidence level of the students but also help in the overall growth of personality and in their career progression in the student life itself. I hope that this enthusiasm is continued and our students perform at much bigger levels each time.
Career Counselling
Throughout the year with the motto of spreading the Chartered Accountancy profession and making people aware about the accountancy profession, we reached more than 7500 students in various schools and colleges across Nashik district. We hope that more and more students are attracted towards the CA curriculum and we play a bigger role to fulfil the requirement of studied and skilled accountants required by industries all over the world through our fraternity. This was a great achievement where such a huge number of students was catered and we were able to reach them across rural areas to spread the role of the Institute in building the Accountancy profession. I acknowledge the efforts of the WICASA Chairman who took over the initiative and with the support of the faculties and members we were able to achieve this feat.
Chartered Accountants’ Benevolent Fund
ICAI has always been working persistently for the benefit of its members and is diligently dedicated to their constant improvement and growth. Since 1962, the Chartered Accountants Benevolent Fund (CABF) is the medium through which ICAI is providing financial assistance to the dependents and families of its deceased members. CABF is a unique social security and benevolence program by the Members and for the Members and has played a very crucial role during COVID pandemic, by helping the members and their dependents. CABF needs to be strengthened so that the Members in need can be provided suitable support within the stipulated framework. The CA fraternity is the core strength of the profession and needs to be acknowledged for the selfless service they do by contributing to CABF. I hereby appeal all the members to contribute wholeheartedly towards this noble cause.
My journey with the Nashik Branch has been long and fulfilling. After having served in different positions in the managing committee, I eventually reached the highest office as the Chairman of the branch in the year 2024-25 with the support and blessings of each one of you. As the year is coming to an end, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my colleagues in the Managing Committee and for the consideration and ready co-operation extended to me during the year for working towards the development of the profession. I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all my distinguished colleagues for being excellent partners and great support in this journey. As I pass on the mantle of leadership on the able shoulders of the new Chairman, I am confident that he will continue to light the path ahead and take it further with his vigour, and enthusiasm in serving the profession.
I wish to take this opportunity of acknowledging the co-operation and guidance I received from the esteemed past-Chairman, senior members of the profession, Branch Nominee and all the distinguished members who have supported me throughout my journey as the Chairman of the branch. I would also like to mention the warmth and generosity which I was fortunate to receive from members and students of the branch whenever I had the opportunity of interacting with them. I would also like to record my appreciation of the services and co-operation of the staff of the Branch who have worked with all sincerity and have extended unstinted support in effectively implementing the various initiatives of the branch during the year. Lastly, I pay my deepest gratitude to the almighty and my mentors for their blessings and guidance to steer the branch and the profession to newer heights. I am especially thankful to my family and friends for supporting me throughout this journey with their patience and being pillars of strength.
In this last message as the Chairman of the branch, I wish to convey that this has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life working and interacting with members, students, Educational Institutions, colleges, Government Departments and distinguished members of the society, who have impacted me in various ways. The time has come when I have to bid adieu to you as the Chairman of this vibrant branch. I must admit that I have cherished my tenure as Chairman and appreciate having the opportunity to work with and for the members, students and all the stakeholders of the Institute.
Challenges make us stronger to face difficult times and at times bring out the best out of us. We should move towards the target steadily but with patience. As we tread on an unexplored path in pursuit of excellence, we must remember that patience is a key weapon in our armoury. Patience encourages you to be consistent towards your goals and helps you appreciate your journey towards success. Remember the old adage – slow and steady wins the race. This resilience accompanied by timely efforts help us to offer our distinctive mark of excellence to the world. I am sure that the collective wisdom, support and guidance of the entire CA fraternity in the journey of excellence will continue to enlighten the path of progressive transformation.
From the post of Chairman, I take my leave with satisfaction and gratitude for this fulfilling tenure and wish each one of you the best on this purposeful journey ahead. Let us come together to make our nation the largest and most stable economy in the world. The role of Indian Chartered Accountants is very big and impactful on the world economy and over the years I have observed the perseverance and mastery of many professionals who have taken big strides in developing and highlighting the name of our Institute through their work.
Our motto, Ya eṣa supteṣu jāgarti - that person who is awake in those that sleep inspired generations of Chartered Accountants and makes me stand erect in pride when the Motto song is played. I urge everyone to stand by the motto in all our actions and let’s make our nation proud with our ethics and integrity. I wish all of my professional colleagues and my beloved Institute the very best in pursuit of Excellence, Independence and Integrity.
Jai Hind! Jai ICAI!