Chairman - EIRC

Chairman - EIRC

Beloved Esteemed Members and Professional Colleagues,



 



"Just as we honour the love of our mothers, let us also cherish and protect the nurturing embrace of our Mother Earth. Together, we can ensure a healthier, greener world for our future generations.”



 



As I address you for the third time as the Chairman of EIRC of ICAI, I extend my warm wishes for International Earth Day, International Workers’ Day, Mother’s Day, Rabindra Jayanti and Nazrul Jayanti. The month of May presents us with an opportunity to reflect on our responsibilities not only towards our profession but also towards our Mother Earth and the culture of our Nation.



 



International Earth Day reminds us of the urgent need to address environmental challenges and promotes the adoption of sustainable practices. As Chartered Accountants, we play a vital role in influencing the business landscape and our engagement in Environmental, Social and Governance and Green Practice is crucial for motivating sustainable development.



 



ESG practices are becoming increasingly important as businesses and stakeholders recognize the need for sustainable operations. As auditors and the partners in Nation Building, our role is to ensure that organisations accurately report their ESG metrics and adopt practices to protect our environment, which helps in building trust with investors and the public at large.



 



Why is it Important to adopt ESG Practices:



Incorporating ESG practices into business operations is no longer optional; it is a necessity. Companies are now evaluated not just on their financial performance but also on their environmental and social impact. ESG practices include reducing carbon footprints, managing waste efficiently, promoting fair labour practices, and ensuring transparent governance. By advising and auditing these practices, we can help businesses align with global sustainability standards and contribute to a more sustainable future.



 



Let me suggest some Green Practices for us:



Our profession must lead by example. Here are some green practices we can adopt:




  • Paperless Office: Embrace digital solutions to minimize paper usage. Implement electronic filing systems, digital signatures, cloud storage and online communication to reduce reliance on physical documents.




  • Sustainable Travel: Promote the use of virtual meetings to reduce the need for travel.




  • Energy Efficiency: Optimize energy consumption in our offices by using energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, and smart air conditioning. Encourage the use of renewable energy sources by installing Solar Panels if possible.




  • Waste Management: Implement robust waste management strategies. Encourage recycling, proper disposal of electronic waste, and reduction of single-use plastics.



 



Our Commitment to Professional Development:



At EIRC of ICAI, we are committed to promoting the overall development of our members. Our recent seminars and workshops have emphasized the importance of implementing technology, Artificial Intelligence and modern techniques in our daily practice. Some of these seminars and workshops were:



 




  • Seminar on “Office Automation & Code of Ethics” on 18th April 2024 by CA. Ravi Kumar Patwa, Past Chairman of EIRC and CA. Sumit Bihani. We were enlightened on some basic tools for office work automation and the Code of Ethics in our profession.




  • Workshop on “Office Work Optimization Using IT Tools” on 20th April 2024 by CA Shyam Agarwal, CA Vanika Choudhary, CA Sumit Bhagat, CA Sunny Agarwal and CA. Bharat D. Saragwee. The contributors shared with us some tips and tricks to make our office workflow easy using Excel Tools, Power Queries, ChatGPT, Google Workspace and other Tech Tools.




  • Malda CPE Study Chapter organized Mega CPE Conference on 21st April 2024. We discussed some facts and insights on Audit Trail, GST Jurisdiction - Notices and Appeal.




  • 5 Days Programme on "GST Practice: Automate and Litigate" from 22nd to 26th April 2024. We were enriched on Excel to GPT in GST by CA Venugopal Gella, Scrutiny of Returns - Do's & Don’t's by CA DS Agarwala, Search & Seizure: Strategies to Handle by CA. Shivani Shah, Demand & Recovery : Intricacies by CA Shubham Khaitan, Department Audit - Initiation to Completion by CA Abhishek Tibrewal, Decoding System Generated Notices by CA Rohit Prasad, Moot Court : Practical Perspective by Adv. Naveen Kumar KS, CA(Adv.) Rajeev Agarwal, CA(Adv.) Ankit Kanodia, Appeal : A Pragmatic Approach by CA Gagan Kedia , Automation on GST by Mr. Arvind Agarwalla, FACT Software Group, Singapore.

  • GST Appellate Tribunal: Charting the Way forward by CA Arun Agarwal and Summons : Practical Case Studies by Adv. Arup Dasgupta




  • Workshop on “Top 10 Things to Learn in Word and Excel for Senior Professionals” on 27th April 2024 by CA Moushikha Sarkar, CA Sukrit Sinha & CA Sunny Agarwal. We discussed on some commonly used tools and features in MS-Word and MS-Excel.




  • Capital Market Conclave on Charting Indian Economy 2.0 organized on 4th May 2024 by Committee on Financial Markets and Investors’ Education hosted by EIRC of ICAI. We were enlightened by Ajay Sharma,President of Edelweiss Financial Services; CA. Anil Singhvi, Managing Editor of Zee Business; Saurabh Mukherjea, Founder of Marcellus Investment Managers Vivek Bajaj, Co-founder of StockEdge and Ajay Bagga.




  • 2 Days Programme on "Governance, Risk, and Compliance: A Lucrative Avenue for Chartered Accountants in Autonomous and Local Bodies” on 7th and 8th May 2024 by CA. Satish Kumar Garg, CA. Jayant Purushottam Gokhale, CA. Anil Shukla, CA. Nirmal Chakraborty, Dr. P Siva Rama Prasad, CA Suman Chaudhury, CA. Sanjay Bhattacharya and CA Arup Dasgupta.




  • Felicitation Ceremony of the President of ICAI, CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal by Guwahati Branch on 8th May 202, Tinsukia Branch and Dibrugarh Branch on11th May 2024. The President of ICAI shared the upcoming opportunities and challenges for our profession and his Vision for our fraternity.




  • Seminar on Ind AS on 14th and 15th May 2024 by CA. Vivek Agarwal and CA. Arindam Sengupta. We were given key insights and a look through on Ind AS 1, 32, 101, 107 and 109 throughout the two days.




  • Seminar on New Tax Audit & ITR Forms on 16th May 2024 by CA. Ayush Goel.



 



As Team EIRC we strongly believe in celebrating creativity, resilience and cultural pride of Bengal and our entire nation. That is why, on 17th May 2024 EIRC of ICAI jointly with All Study Circles and Supported by CA Cultural Association organised “Rabindra Nazrul Sandhya” to pay homage to our Poet Laureate Kaviguru Rabindranath Thakur and our Rebel Post Kazi Nazrul Islam. The evening of Recitations and Performances celebrated the thoughts these two illustrious literary figures championed in spreading the words of Brotherhood, Unity and Equality.



 



 



As Team EIRC we are determined to continue hosting events that not only enhance our technical skills but also broaden our global footprints. Some of the seminars curated down the line are:



 




  • Seminar on How to Handle Burning Issues in GST Scrutiny & other Recent Developments in GST on 27th May 2024 from 5:30 p.m. by CA Ishan Tulsian




  • Seminar on “Corporate Law Innovations and Share Dematerialisation” on 29th May 2024 by CA. Animesh Mukhopadhay and CS Nupur Chaudhuri from 5:30 p.m.




  • Seminar on “Forensic Accounting, Standards & Opportunities” on 30th May 2024 by CA. Arijit Chakraborty from 5:30 p.m.




  • Seminar on “SME & Start-up” on 31st May 2024 from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. by CA Rishi Khator, CA Swati Singhania, CA Manish Gadia and CFS Arvind Haralalka.




  • Corporate Law Conclave on 8th June 2024 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.



 



It is with immense happiness we announce that from 23rd May 2024, We are launching “Run @ 75: Reskill, Upskill, NewSkill” an initiative to host 75 Webinars - 6 Days a week from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on 75 Topics vital for our Overall Evolution to reach out as Global Professionals.



As the custodians of our National Economy and Pride, we should always value the experiences of our seniors. Team EIRC is prepared to bring this into action. We are coming up with “WE CARE” - an initiative to compile the experiences and thoughts of our senior members - an initiative to showcase that Age is not just a Number, but a metric to invaluable experiences.



 



Team EIRC is also elated to inform you that we are looking forward to organise CA. Rahul Roy Youth Memorial Lecture on the International Youth Day every year i.e. 12th August. Please refer to the upcoming pages to have a glimpse of our vision in paying tribute to the great personality CA. Rahul Roy.



 



We are coming up with “Best Practices for SMPs” - a cloud based repository for Standardised and Best Applicable Reports, Forms, Returns and much more that can be of immense help for small and medium scale practice firms of Chartered Accountants.



 



A practitioner can access and refer the documents anytime and anywhere to maintain the best possible standardized format when creating a similar document for their clientele.



 



Looking ahead, we are geared up for the upcoming 49th Regional Conference with the theme "WE". Scheduled on 23rd and 24th August 2024 at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan (Milan Mela, opposite of Science City), these two days promise to be a landmark occasion throughout Eastern India with over 75 dignitaries and over 5,000 delegates, offering a platform for insightful exchanges and professional enrichment. It is our earnest request to register by 31st May 2024 to enjoy 40% Early Bird Offer. Log on to we.eirc-icai.org for more details.



 



As we glide past the Financial Year 2024-25, our commitment to serve our fraternity remains steadfast. Our drive to raise ₹75 lakhs for the Chartered Accountants Benevolent Fund (CABF) is progressing well, with significant contributions already made towards this noble cause. This effort exemplifies the spirit of brotherhood and support that defines our profession. I convey my warm gratitude to all those who came forward to support the initiative. Log on to https://eirc-icai.org/cabf/ to learn more and contribute.



 



Starting this month, we have introduced a Feedback Register at Russell Street Office for our members and students. After each visit, you are encouraged to share your thoughts and suggestions in this register kept at our Reception Counter to help us in reshaping our management.



 



Additionally, I also want to inform you that we record all the events conducted by us and upload it to our YouTube channel. This drive helps us to reach every members of EIRC and facilitates enlightening of our members from anywhere and anytime. Kindly visit: https://www.youtube.com/@easternindiaregionalcounci6358/



 



Together, let's continue to Reskill, Upskill, and Newskill, embracing new challenges and opportunities with enthusiasm and integrity.



 



Warm regards,



Chairman (2024-25)

EIRC of ICAI