Pune: A delegation from the Western India Regional Council (WIRC) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) discussed with Maharashtra Cooperative Commissioner Deepak Taware key issues related to the state’s cooperative sector including audit reforms, regulatory timelines and professional participation in policy making.The delegation was led by WIRC Chairman CA Saurabh Ajmera and included RCM CA Abhishek Dhamane, WIRC Cooperative Committee Chairman and ICAI Pune Chairman CA Pranav Apte. The meeting held at the commissioner’s office was described by the participants as “constructive and forward-looking”.Among the key demands raised was the extension of the timeline for the list of auditors for the period 2026-29, citing procedural challenges and the need for adequate time for preparation. The delegation also urged the state administration to formally include chartered accountants in the draft of the proposed new cooperative policy, paralleling ICAI’s advisory models in the Income Tax and GST framework.Another important issue that was highlighted was the revision of audit fees for cooperative audits, which remained unchanged since FY 2013-14. The delegation pointed out that the scope of audit, compliance requirements and professional accountability had expanded significantly over the past decade, warranting a corresponding update to the remuneration structure.Among the officers present in the meeting were RCM CA Rajesh Aggarwal, CA Nilesh Yeolkar, CA Nand Kumar Kadam, senior chartered accountant Vasant Gund, and cooperative sector expert Satish Mandada.The interaction is seen as a step towards closer collaboration between the accounting profession and cooperative management in Maharashtra, with a focus on modernizing the regulatory framework and strengthening governance practices in the sector.
