When we take the name of Smt R Sivabhogam, we all are awed. She was the First Woman Chartered Accountant of India. This determined woman participated in non-cooperation movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi and was imprisoned for a year. She created history by becoming the first Indian Woman Accountant in 1933. Shivabhogam started her independent practice in 1937. On the formation of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in 1949 Sivabhogam was enrolled as a member and became a fellow on 17 June 1950.She became Chairperson of the Southern India Regional Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (the then Madras Council) and held this position, for a continuous period of three years from 1955 to 1958.She is an women of substance and is an inspiration for the fraternity and women at large. A woman who was not only dedicated to her profession but had the undying love for her nation, whom imprisonment could not deter.
When we take the names of Smt Geetha A.B, Smt Sonu Jain and Smt Anjali Choksi what strikes us first? Yes, they are women and remarkable ones to shatter the glass ceiling. Smt Geetha A.B. has been elected Chairperson of the Bengaluru branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for 2017-18. She is the first lady chairperson in the 35 years history of the local unit. Her contributions to the CA professional community as Secretary, Treasurer and CA Students’ Head are worth mentioning. On 25.02.18, EIRC got its first chairperson as women in the name of Smt Sonu Jain. Members of the Ahmedabad chapter of Institute of Chartered Accountants on 27.02.19, elected CA Anjali Choksi who became a member to ICAI panel in the Ahmedabad chapter in the18 year history of the unit. While being in the mid of professional obligation, taking such key roles in panel is commendable and pride of the women members of the institute. More such endeavours are looked forward to and just as we all rejoiced the Woman Indian president of India Smt. P Patel, one day we will have a deserving women ICAI president.
Margaret Thatcher said “If you want something said ask a man; if you want something done ask a woman”. When we look at this quote we do not mean to say that women are the only doers, our profession and women got a lot of deserving assistance from the fatherly figures in our profession. But in accuracy and with perfection making actions as clear as words spoken is a woman’s forte. A woman’s brain is wired to continuously corelate and work on situations than a segmented , compartmentalised brain of a man. Thus, with a woman at the helm, you are sure that she is working on the problem and never sleeping upon it.
When we take the name of our alma mater, the first thing that comes to our mind is free thinking, key initiative to provide opportunities. Our alma mater has always, tried to give opportunities that the women members deserve. A separate portal for the assistance of women members i.e. https://womenportal.icai.org/ has been made. Such initiatives are appreciable and also needed for married or single women who have to balance personal commitments with professional ones. In this era when we talk about gender equality, the disparity is still clearly visible in society at large. As per the ICAI portal there is 21.1% of women members and 36% of girl students (https://www.icai.org/new_post.html?post_id=10576). We would surely like that number to rise and grow to 50%, but for that to happen, it will take time. It takes a lot of pride to say that the professional bodies of India be it us or the lawyers are the torch bearers of the society in giving regard to the women of the society. In our professional communities, I am yet to come across any discrimination whatsoever, rather women and their endeavours are duly respected.
Those entering the corporate structure have a more methodical role to follow compared to practice in small and medium enterprise. The, dynamism of practice cannot be ignored. With dynamism comes challenges as well as opportunities. While clientele development and growth is important, self development and self-growth is the need of the hour. Having a regular client base is a boon, but evaluating them on the parameters of integrity, continuous development is also required. The few handy tools we can follow for making a challenge into an opportunities and our self growth is as follows:-
- Swot Analysis:- We need to do a swot analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities we have. To focus on the strengths and grabbing the opportunities will emit the positive vibe and find ways to tackle the threats and also limit the weaknesses.
- Networking:- Each CPE program we attend is an opportunity not only to develop our knowledge but to interact with varied people. Women based CPE programs should also be encouraged throughout the country, we all know it readily happens in Delhi, but quarterly such meets should be rotated throughout the units in various parts of the nation.
- Bucket list:- We must make a bucket-list for our practice requirements. It can be five point,10 point or 15 point list. If its and yearly list then 15 point list must be suffice, if quarterly then 5 point list will be apt. The list will consist a wish-list in regard to practice. Instead of making it an all serious mid term goal plan, a bucket list will bring in the zeal to mention the wish-list for the practice incorporated with personal list. Reviewing it periodically, is a must.
- Meditation:- Being in practice has its own challenges, for self-realisation and calmness, meditation is the best tool to practise. In one’s busy schedule 10 mins time for self realisation will bring in calmness, one requires to meet the various challenges. Sadguru’s Isha-Kriya is a life changing tool and first step to a calmer life amidst chaos.
- Courses and Updating: - The ICAI from time to time conducts courses through batches or online. Such courses help in knowledge enhancement and indirect networking. Like any other professional, continuous growth and updating of knowledge is needed.
We all know that being a part of our alma-mater, we can choose to be part of the corporate as in service as consultants or any other role. We can also traverse the part of being a Chartered Accountant as being in practice. In practice, while there are a lot of challengers, the dynamics and work exposure is greater. In a small to medium firm you need to know the nitty, gritty of audit, accounts and taxation. While focusing on one principal aspect, you do need to have the requisite knowledge of other disciplines. When a CA goes for audit, he has to see not only the internal working as per standards of audit or accounting standards. But one also has to check the statutory obligations in regards to GST, PF, Professional Tax etc is being met or not. The audit dynamics have changed and so has the approach of the CA in practice.
For women to be able to work remotely at-times gives a host of opportunities to meet deadlines and maintain the work-life balance. The recent interim budget of handling of online cases, is not just a step up for transparency but also an opportunity for net-savy women like us, who can skilfully articulate a case and file the details online. This not only saves our time but also ensures transparency in the system.
The required matters of emphasis by our visionary alma mater for the women members and members in general is as follows:-
1)Internal audits should happen through empanelment’s and the standard fees for such audits must not only be prescribed but implemented. When, as professionals, we have so many checklists and standards to follow, that means to meet end are worthy of it is a request which comes from the heart. Empanelment will also lead to greater transparency
2)The rules and regulations in regard to firm promotion need we looked into. Since from the time the act came into place and now, the total dynamics has changed. For small and medium enterprise to sustain and growth, these rules and regulations need be looked into.
3)The barriers of working and day specification is not applicable to zones where normal life is disrupted at times for days and though one maintains a regular office. How can these issues be looked into to facilitate women safety is point to ponder upon.
4)Women ICAI cells must be formed where any woman CA in practice or service can easily be contacted, for the various sets of challenges faced. Such cells will be there “for the women” and “run by the women”. Making the women aware of their rights at work, and various knowledge base furnished regarding right protection of women at work.
5)We are the few lucky ones, who have had the exposure to knowledge, growth and are a part of our alma mater. We must socially try to provide education and training and information about our course to the suppressed of our kind. This can be done by our alma mater talking with the respective governments of the state to access to such schools/government institutions. So that such voluntary knowledge imparting work can happen , at-least 7 days, half yearly. Like the CABF, fund for the women members must be created, voluntary donations saved for future developments of these members of the wing.
“In our society , the woman who break down barriers are those who ignore limits-by” Arnold Schwarzenegger. We all are limitless within the constraints set by society. It is for us to define what we want to achieve, leave no stones unturned in its persuasion. Meanwhile each of us have to do our bit for furtherance of women in society. We in practice while providing employment, should see how the women folks can be employed and facilitated, along with employment of others. We women working as cohesive units, can be our support system and promote the growth of our gender while respecting all sects. Being a woman in practice has its own boon. It gives the independence in making decision with integrity or working as a cohesive unit within the small medium enterprise setup. Time management based on opportunities can be a challenge, but every rose has its thorns! The above issues if addressed, they will give a level playing field to all the women in practice along with other opportunities.
Hopefully the forward-thinking approach of our alma mater is instilled in the society at large. But, for that to happen in a full-fledged manner we have a long road to traverse. The, difference between the society at large and our professional communication group is, that knowledge opens up minds. A knowledgeable person is not restrained in looking at an individual in the constraints of religious, cast or creed divide nor social standing. Here the exchange of ideas happens between likeminded people on the same ground of knowledge sharing. So, in making the entire society a place of like-minded thinking is only wishful thinking and not in our hands. What we can do is empower us women, with knowledge and develop skills to meet our means to meet the ends. Thus, to become an equipped and able woman, we need to develop ourselves. Then our feel good aspect will make the world a better place. The four key points to remember in this regard are
1)Education and Training:- The mind that is educated and has developed skills, is a confident one. Upgrade oneself professionally is needed always.
2)Adequate Resources:- While we might be passionate about our work, we must also honour the professional degree we have earned and seek remuneration in tandem with service professionally rendered.
3)Inaction to action:- Being in practice is like being in the drivers seats with the assignments to handle. The more you impart and utilise your skills , will make one move from passivity to activeness. The one who works can only have a greater exposure and experience.
4)Support System:- Your working team is a cohesive part of your deliverance, so being on the same page and reconciling issues is always required.
We all are part of the society and in the changes we make on the regular basis to our lives, helps in making us our better version. We are being the better version of ourselves thus we then can contribute to a better society. Thus, instead of trying to change the society, if we concentrate on developing us. We with our contributions can make a better society for us women and all sects to live peacefully. Where we have to remember “men their rights and nothing more, and women and their rights and nothing less “by Susan B Anthony.
Thanking You,
Ca Anuradha Biswas,
reserach material:. Sites referred to https://www.quora.com/Who-is-the-first-woman-CA-in-India , https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/first-woman-chairperson-of-icai-vizag-chapter/article5701954.ece, https://www.jiyobangla.com/news/eastern-india-regional-council-of-the-icai-gets-its-first-woman-chairperson-from-kolkata and https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/first-woman-elected-to-icai-panel/articleshow/68175352.cms
|
.png)
