ICSI to build excellence centre at Kolkata’s Rajarhat: Mamta Binani

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) celebrated its 48th CS Day at Kolkata. To mark the occasion, a mega-programme was organised at Gorky Sadan Auditorium. Rajya Sabha MP and and All-India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party Leader Derek O’Brien graced the occasion as Chief Guest. GPT Infra Projects Ltd Chairman Dwarika Prasad Tantia, Skipper Ltd Managing Director Sajan Kumar Bansal and Century Plyboards (I) Ltd Chairman Sajjan Bhajanka were the guests of honour on the occasion.

In his inaugural address, O’ Brien congratulated ICSI on its 48th CS Day and said that company secretaries over the years have made a mark for themselves in the economic development of the country through evolving standards of corporate governance and compliance. He said that he firmly believes that CS as ‘key managerial personnel’ provides outstanding leadership, credibility and transparency in the corporate world.

Giving away awards to All India Toppers of last June’s CS examinations, he said, “The whole world is changing in all the spheres at a mind boggling speed. In this transformational and disruptive environment the best gift any Institution can give to its students is the ability to understand this very basic nature of change so that they are well prepared for the future.”

ICSI President Mamta Binani said, “The foundation day of an organisation is a significant date in every organisation and for an organisation like ICSI it is all the more important as it depicts the journey which started as small steps and now has traversed long distances”. She also stated that the foundation day of a professional institute like ICSI is not only an occasion to rejoice but an occasion to be reborn, to unlearn and relearn, in a way to rediscover and rejuvenate. 

“The Institute and the profession have made steady advances in terms of recognition, multidisciplinary expertise and professional excellence and on this auspicious day, ICSI re-dedicates itself to its professional values, achieve greater heights and prepare itself robustly for future challenges,” she added. The ICSI President also dwelt briefed on the history of the Institute and referred to great contribution of its past presidents and past secretaries during its 48 successful years of nation building.

Binani announced that ICSI would be launching a centre of excellence in Rajarhat, Kolkata, where it has bought 1.5 acres of land, which is scheduled to be completed in two years. She thanked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee for allotment of the land to ICSI.

“Given the need for good corporate governance in today’s corporate world, the demand of company secretaries is  increasing day by day . The Institute and the profession has taken positive strides  in terms of recognition, multidisciplinary expertise and professional excellence and on this auspicious day ICSI re-dedicates itself to its professional values, achieve greater heights and prepare itself robustly for future challenges,” she added.

In his special address, Tantia said that the Companies Act 2013 has shifted the paradigm and now gives a multi-dimensional role to company secretaries in the field of statutory audit, liquidations, secretarial standards, secretarial audit, framework for amalgamation and mergers.”The need of the hour is to ensure righteousness,” he emphasized.

Bansal stated that the Companies Act, 2013, has given company secretaries a new set of duties and challenges.  company secretaries will adorn high offices of Board of directors of companies and also get into the key operations of the company and  contribute to decision-making.  “Company secretaries are the first and the last line of defence in the battle to ensure good corporate governance in”, he said.

Congratulating the Institute and students, Bhajanka said, “The ICSI has constantly added value by incorporating the best business and technical practices and philosophies to bridge the gap between education through books and the practical realities of the outside world so that the students are fully equipped to deliver their best”.