Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Wednesday, May 19, 2004 |
||
|
|
||
|
Industry & Economy
-
Human Resources ICSI may make professional development programmes must Richa Mishra
New Delhi , May 18 The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is considering making its professional development programmes (PDP) compulsory for those company secretaries (CS) who are in jobs. Currently, the institute has made it mandatory for a practising company secretary to undergo the programme and optional for those in employment. "A profession cannot maintain its cutting-edge competencies unless its members regularly update their knowledge. Keeping this in mind the institute has made it compulsory for a professional company secretary to attend certain hours of the programme and recommendatory for members in employment, with effect from April 2003," said Mr Mahesh Anant Athavale, President, ICSI. The need for such programmes was felt to assure users of the professional services that the service providers possess adequate skills commensurate with their professional responsibilities, he said. "The encouraging response to the programme during the last one-year has prompted us into thinking that updating knowledge in a competitive environment is as important to members in employment as to those in practice," he pointed out. "We have sought suggestions from all the members on whether PDP should be made compulsory for members in employment," Mr Athavale told Business Line. In fact in Western countries, in order to continue membership of a professional body, a person needs to take an annual examination so that the institute can ensure that its members have up-to-date knowledge, he stated. Elaborating on the reasons behind making PDP compulsory for its members in practice, Mr Athavale said that the PDP, besides enabling the members in constantly upgrading professional competence and skills, also sensitises them to new and emerging opportunities for services. On what prompted the institute to work out such a programme, the president said, "The concept of whole-time practice, which received its initial recognition in 1988, has gained momentum after the enactment of Companies (Amendment) Act, 2000." The Act required a compliance certificate to be issued by a practicing company secretary for certain category of companies. Besides this, the members in practice have also been recognised by regulatory authorities for issuing various certificates by regulatory authorities. In order to meet the ever-changing demands on the profession this was required, he said. Based on the recommendations of the perspective-planning group constituted by the council of the institute, ICSI has recommended compulsory attendance by members at PDP. The institute has also prescribed guidelines for it.
More Stories on : Human Resources | Education | Accountancy
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2004, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|