ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2002

(Mumbai, 6th & 7th September, 2002)

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Dear Friends,

I welcome you all in Mumbai at this Annual Conference. Hope, this conference will yield some purposeful thoughts and actions, conducive for our future growth.

At the onset, I would like to remind you all that in a total changed scenario in the days of economic liberalisation, we need to be well-equipped to combat the challenges which the country has been facing from fraudsters and scamsteres by way of misusing the benefits meant for healthy economic growth. While the conventional modus operandi of smuggling are mostly being outdated, today's smuggling and duty evasion cases are mostly related to clever maneuvering of software knowledge. It is estimated that less than 30% of the work force in our Customs Dept are computer literates leave aside their knowledge about the smuggling / duty evasion involving software technology. So, there is a dire need of changing the obsolete and outdated pattern of manpower deployment in which the officers of Preventive wing who are deprived of thorough knowledge in assessment and clearance should be given a comprehensive training along with adequate knowledge in computer operation keeping the future trained in mind.

I appeal to the policy makers to be pragmatic and judicious enough, so that there should be 'Golden Balance' struck in the process of re-structuring enabling our department to be stronger enough to steer the wheels of economic progress in right direction.

One should not think what Nation has given to him but should think what his contribution towards Nation is. Success does not lie on the individual's gain but on the well-being of his surroundings. Please remember: "It is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice."

WISH YOU ALL THE BEST

Sunil Dole