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Give `em more

D. Murali

ONE communication that most CAs do not look forward to from the Institute is the fee reminder. Before a cheque is made out for despatch, many grumble about the outflow. Fellows holding certificate of practice dish out at the rate of almost Rs 6 per day, and there are umpteen Associates out there who, though eligible to be called Fellows, refrain from applying for the `F' because of the fee differential.

Also, there are many CAs who, having taken up employment, allow their membership to lapse for non-payment of fee. Very few employers, such as the ICAI itself, pay fees on behalf of their CA-employees, though the taxman may like to include it as a perk. O ne wonders whether ready statistics are available with the ICAI on these categories.

The Institute is a bundle of bureaucracy that is top-heavy. It starts with a highly-paid Secretary whose photos regularly appear in the newsletters but whose contribution -- in the form of a tuned-up administration -- is like the emperor's clothes.

While many members grudge having to foot the bill for all wasteful happenings-on at the Institute, there is a thinking within the Central Council that the fee paid by the CAs is too low. A minimum of Rs 5,000 should be okay, is an opinion. Another would say Rs 10,000, and so on.

But the nagging question is whether members get service, or good value for money. Or, are they simply subsidising some sort of club activities where goodies go only to the chosen few. Is all the fee only for reaching to members a journal trumpeting the a chievements of the incumbent president and maintaining the members' data on the Institute's computers?

The ICAI administration has grown like a Frankenstein, and no Council dares control it. If only leaks get plugged by those who profess to represent a profession that prides being good at internal controls, the ICAI would be able to deliver better service for its members.

Such as? Say, throwing in for all CAs a Rs 5-lakh professional liability/accident insurance cover, 50-hour Net access, a your-name-email account, a 2 MB homepage space, and so on, without hiking the yearly fee.

e-mail: dmurali@thehindu.co.in