ICAI Central Council - 2012 - Election Manifesto

FOR ICAI CENTRAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS, 2012

CONTESTANT SERIAL NO. 14 - G SEKAR, B.COM, FCA - CHENNAI

Dear Esteemed and Conscientious Professional,

I wish to inform you that I am contesting for getting elected to the Central Council of the ICAI in the forthcoming elections in December 2012. I hereby request your Support, Best Wishes and First or Best Preference Vote in this Election.

Our Central Council Election is an “Election Among Equals”, i.e. professionals having equal knowledge and expertise. Sometimes, the Members not contesting the Council Elections may have better expertise and knowledge than the candidates in the election fray.

In my opinion, the Members of the ICAI Central Council are not elected for any ceremonial post or for showing their superiority. It is only a Power of Attorney executed by every Voter Member to collectively represent them on relevant issues concerning the profession, to various Government Agencies and Departments. The Power of Attorney is executed in the form of a Ballot Paper instead of a Stamp Paper. Keeping this in mind, to represent your esteemed self, I request a Power of Attorney in my favour, in the form of your First or any Best Preference Vote.

You may be aware that the past average polling is around 45% in the ICAI Elections. The election Ballot Paper is the only means through which we can prove to the Government and Regulatory Authorities that we are working together as “One Professional Community”. The voting percentage will speak before the Government in each and every interaction of our Council with the Government, for the benefit of Members and the Society.  So, I request you to kindly come and cast your vote.

 In case you are not satisfied with all the candidates, atleast please come and cast your vote of dissent.

The contribution of Chartered Accountants towards India’s Economic Growth is immense and significant. The recognition of and rewards for such contribution greatly depends on the quality of people representing our professional community in the Council. Hence, I request your goodself to cast your vote, after due consideration and objective evaluation of candidates. Let us not forget, ultimately our voting decides our representatives.

Presently, in the Southern Region of ICAI, there are around 42,000 Members. You are well aware that it is practically not possible to meet each one of you in person even though my heart would want the same, hence, I am sending this communique to you, to seek your support for my candidature.

Let us elevate ourselves in our Thoughts, Words and Actions.

Seeking your Support, Best Wishes and First or Best Preference Vote in this Elections,

With Regards,

G Sekar, FCA

“Shri Guru Padhuka” No. 27, Akbarabad 2nd Street,

Kodambakkam, Chennai – 600 024

E–Mail: sekarg.gurukripa@gmail.com, gsekar@shrigurukripa.com,

Mob: + 91 92821 04800, 99401 77776

Enclosures:

1.  List of Activities / Aspects to be carried out, requiring your support and co–operation (Find below)

2.  My Professional Profile (Find attached)

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The Way Forward……

The following is a small list of activities / aspects which I would like to present before you as my Vision / Mission, for which I would request your valuable inputs, kind guidance, suggestions, support, and co–operation.

• Transparency in Council Proceedings, Activities, through webcasting of Institute Council Proceedings except Examination and Disciplinary Committees.
• Necessary steps to remove Ceiling Limit on number of audits under various Law, and also to ensure that the Authorized Representatives under various Law do not project and publish themselves as “Auditors”.
• Create necessary environment to feel every Chartered Accountant have a sense of belongingness and for all purposes, we are “ICAI Family”.
• Equitable Representation of all interest-groups in the Council – region/ state representation, metro and mofussil based Chartered Accountants, Members in Practice and in Service, etc.
• All ICAI publications fully updated in electronic form – readily downloadable at reasonable cost.
• Effective Brand Building and Image Boosting of Chartered Accountants – as Facilitators and Contributory to the Revenues of the Central Government and State Governments, and as Finance Professionals guiding and directing the business community.
• Each of the Committees of ICAI, e.g. Direct Taxes Committee, Indirect Taxes Committee, Accounting Standards Board, Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, etc. to have reasonable representation from Members in Practice as well as from Members in Service.
• Re–engineering of CPE Programmes and Activities so as to enable Members in Practice and Service, to enrich their knowledge rather than view CPE as a tiresome formality.
• Corporate Training Programmes conducted by the Employer in the normal course of service every year should be considered for credit of CPE Hours.
• When the Members in Service subsequently obtain Certificate of Practice to start their full time practice, their experience in the relevant service area should be considered for empanelment purposes like Bank Audits, Central Statutory Audits, etc. irrespective of whether he is an Associate Member or a Fellow Member.
• Effective steps for improving Articleship Training for CA students, in order to – (a)  broaden the outlook of the prospective CAs, (b) recognize the industry perspective in accounting, documentation, etc. (c) increase the employability, and (d) create overall sound finance professionals.
• Scheme of Valuation of ICAI Exams to be published in Website after announcement of results, like Foreign Institutions, to enable the future Chartered Accountant community to equip themselves with the expected standards of the Examination Committee.
• Increasing the awareness of the employment portal, for qualified Chartered Accountants, both from the Employer as well as Employees’ point of view.
• Decentralisation of Power with responsibilities at administrative and operative level for every Regional and Branch Office to make them to work more efficiently and effectively.
• Ensure all Branches Operating Cost should be met by the Head Office, viz. Maintenance of Buildings, Taxes, Electricity Charges, etc.
• Every Branch Committee shall be administratively supported by minimum of one Administrative Assistant and other Office Staff for smooth functioning of Branch, instead of depending on support of Committee Member Office at the cost of Central Office.
• Submission of atleast fortnightly information and action taken or to be taken on various issues related to Members / Students with Committees.
• Introduction of Electronic Voting System through use of Digital Signature for all Members, particularly, who may be away from their primary professional address as per ICAI records, on the ICAI election date(s).