The Indian Audit & Accounts Service Officers' Wives Association (IAAOWA)

The association was started in the year 1978 during the time of Mrs. Gian Prakash, wife of the sixth Comptroller and Auditor General of India post-independence. It has been recorded in the original guidelines that “she was very keen to meet officer’s wives at least once a month and that the founding members apart from Mrs. Gian Prakash were Smt. Lalit, Smt. Batla, Smt. R.R. Gupta, Smt. Sobti, Smt. Y. Kishan and Smt. A.C. Tiwari. The Association was formed to helped foster friend ship, bonding, sharing and caring among the wives. It provides an avenue to have some fun, free from the stress of balancing domestic accounts while their husbands keep watch over the nation’s balance sheet. IAAOWA plays an important role in promoting service fraternity and a sense of belonging. It helps to promote balance between work and family life, thus boosting the motivation and morale of officers.”

The association expanded its scope of activities greatly under the patronage of Dr. Smita Murmu, wife of the 14th Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Under her guidance, beginning Aug 2020, a wide umbrella of initiatives have been rolled out, some of which are outlined below:

• Association logo was designed and launched, to represent the association symbolically at all forums, internal and external.
• IAAOWA account was opened and all transactions were formalized to inculcate transparency in the association. Authorized signatories were nominated and all payments are now made by cheque.
• Paid membership was encouraged to improve the availability of funds for various activities.
• Annual Magazine Abhikhya was launched to showcase the wide range of activities.
• State chapters were established to strengthen the association pan-India.
• The organizational structure of revamped and a number of committees that focused on health, education, livelihood and cultural activities were constituted.
• A number of social service initiatives were carried out in schools, orphanages and welfare centers.
• International Women’s day for celebrated in a landmark fashion by inviting guest speakers from marginalized communities.
• Fashion show of Khadi designs was organized by inviting young NIFT students.