Mangaluru: A CA students’ two day long conference 'Vidwath' was organized jointly by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Central India Chartered Accountant Students Association (CICASA) at Townhall, here.

The president of ICAI, G Ramaswamy while addressing the gathering said, "Though chartered accountant course is one of the toughest courses, there is good scope for the course nationally and internationally. Hence, goal setting is very important and zeal to learn can help any student pass this examination.

"It is a known fact that parents nowadays want their children to opt for engineering and medical courses. However, we should be aware that around 10 lac engineering graduates passing out every year and finding a job has become a difficult task for them, but, there are ample opportunities for those who do CA course. After the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the scope of CA course has been widened.

Ramaswamy also informed that chartered accountants play a pivotal role in the economic development of the country. Pointing to the Satyam scam, Ramaswamy said, "The chartered accountants should not allow any practices that will count as cheating the government and should follow some ethical values too. The ICAI awarded a maximum penalty of 'removal from membership permanently and an imposition of monetary penalty' on members of ICAI who were involved in the Satyam scam."

Conference director and central council member Madhukar N Hiregange informed that CA course is not a 100 meter race, but is like a marathon. "In order to complete the course, students usually go for coaching classes, but mentors at the coaching classes are usually unable to even answer the queries of students. Beware of such coaching centres."

After the inaugural programme, there were different special and technical sessions, wherein different resource persons shed light upon different topics.

Conference coordinator and Mangaluru Branch of ICAI Shivananda Pai welcomed the gathering. Mangaluru Branch of SICASA chairman Abdur Rahman Musba gave an overview of the conference. Mangaluru Branch ICAI vice chairman Anantha Padmanabha, secretary Raviraj, SICASA, vice chairman Anisha Dalvina Lobo, secretary Rajath R Prabhu among others were present.