By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 6: Under the banner of ‘Udaan – Celebrating Womanhood’, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) validated 75 women for their contributions in the field of accountancy, among whom Shillong-based chartered accountant Shruti Pradhan made it to the list.
Pradhan, who was one of the first women chartered accountants in the state and one of only eight in total when she started in the year 2010, promoted the women workforce of the state, who often remain unrecognised.
She stated, “It could be a small corner shop, a tea and ‘jadoh’ stall, or everyday supplies – they’re mostly run by women.”
Additionally, she mentioned the lack of women in the field of chartered accountancy, adding that even when tax exemptions are in place for tribals, knowledge of investments and savings is lacking.
To bridge the existing gap of financial illiteracy, Pradhan participated as a financial expert in workshops organised by various government departments and private organisations. She also worked as an advisor with entrepreneurs of the state, particularly focusing on women-led enterprises.
Over the course of her career, Pradhan has consulted with government agencies within and outside the state to ensure best practices are set up for financial management of flagship programmes at various levels. Pradhan firmly believes in leveraging knowledge in terms of marketing and financial literacy to propel the immense resources forward.
She acknowledges that there is still a long way to go in this regard.
Pradhan believes that engaging a financial advisor is one thing, but being aware of how money is spent, saved, invested, and reinvested needs to be part of the day-to-day operations of an enterprise
She emphasises, “Every rupee needs to be accounted for. Financial responsibilities cannot be dumped onto a third party. They need to invest themselves in the management of funds and intelligently bridge the gap between producer and consumer to ensure that everyone involved gets a fair deal.”
Pradhan is recognised for her contributions to the state as a professional and for the extra mile she travels to encourage women to strive towards financial independence.