All the blessings are from the Almighty! 

Respected senior professionals, dear colleagues, friends, and beloved students!

Taking over as the 42nd Chairman of Kottayam Branch, SIRC  is indeed a great honour. I can only hope to continue the great legacy put forward by the previous office bearers. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate all the newly elected committee members: CA Ramya N (Vice Chairperson), CA Sreejith N.C (Secretary and Treasurer), CA Sabu Thomas (SICASA Chairperson), and the managing committee members: CA Balaji K (Immediate Past Chairman), CA. Prem Sebastian Antony (Managing Committee member).

I look forward to working with them to accomplish greater heights, expanding the creativity and other skills our beloved members and students are blessed with. March has been a hectic month. As I take over the very prestigious baton of change from my predecessor, CA Balaji K, at that time the branch was the 2nd best branch of SIRC, I, along with fellow Managing Committee members, take the oath to lead the Kottayam Branch of the August Institute to greater heights, envisioning development and overall growth for the members, students, and families at large. 

The installation ceremony of the new office bearers of the ICAI-Kottayam Branch was conducted on March 7, 2024. It was a dignified function, well attended by the well-wishers of both the outgoing and incoming chairpersons. The Hon’ble CA Thomas Chazhikadan, MP, inaugurated the function and stressed the challenges faced by professionals, especially when it comes to ethics and efficacy. 
We have organised an International Women’s Day celebration along with a CPE seminar on the topic of dos and don’ts of the code of ethics by CA Revathy S Regunathan on Thursday, March 7th, 2024. 
 
A seminar on Bank Branch Audit was organised by the Auditing and Assurance Board on March 23, 2024, where CA A Mony spoke on the “Practical approach for verification of advance in branch statutory audit and LFAR”, which was also very well received by the members. 

Thereafter, CPE Seminar on Annual Closing of Accounts on Tuesday, March 26 CA. Joel John handled the first session on  “Accounting Standards and Compliances for Non-Corporate Entities” and the second session by CA Ravinath R Pai on the topic “43B (H) and other relevant amendments for FY 2023-2024 under the Income Tax Act”. 

We could also conduct the Disha Kottayam 2024 Higher Studies Expo. On Wednesday, March 27, the Department of Public Education, Higher Secondary Wing, Career Guidance, and Adolescent Counselling Cell, Kottayam District, organised ‘Disha Kottayam 2024: Higher Studies Expo’ at Kalaketti Achamma Memorial Higher Secondary School, Assisi Andha Vidyalaya, and Holy Cross Church Auditorium.4500 higher secondary students and their parents studying in higher secondary schools in the Kottayam district participated in the programme, ranging from those aiming for admission in India’s premier educational institutions to those aiming for immediate employment after studying short-term courses. ICAI Kottayam Branch co-sponsored the event, and this programme has made it possible to introduce the CA course to more children. CA Annu, John, and CA Arvind C. Thomas took the session for the students. ICAI Kottayam Branch Chairman, CA Shine, P. Joseph, and CA Satheesan P, Tresurerm SIRC of ICAI,  CA Rajesh S, Member, SIRC of ICAI, CA Vijayalakshmi, CA Balaji K., and CA Sabu Thomas spoke about the further potential of Chartered Accountancy. The programme was of good quality in every way and enough to attract more children to opt for the CA course. 

TVs were placed in classrooms for children to attend online classes, which was a great initiative. We once again thank all the members who have been offering their support and blessings in abundance in all our initiatives and the ones that have yet to arrive in the course of time. We are sure that your continued patronage will provide us with all the energy and motivation needed to run this branch for a full year with pure energy and divertissement.

Let me conclude with this inspiring quote of  Paulo Coelho “Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed.”

Jai Hind! Jai ICAI! 

CA SHINE P. JOSEPH
CHAIRMAN

---