It is an immense honour and privilege to take over the reins as the President of this august body of minimal access surgeons which has grown to the current membership of 3300 plus members over the past 15 years. I thank you all for reposing confidence in me to lead this association as it's President in the Year 2023 taking over the baton from Dr Rajesh Bhojwani.

In this year we envisage conducting atleast two zonal meetings culminating in the National Conference at Pune in October 2023. The West Zone SELSI meeting in February/March 2023 and a East Zone Meeting in September 2023. Besides a National Zonal Meeting along with IHSCON in Varanasi in August 2023.

It is also proposed to hold MCLS FCLS examinations at West and East Zone meetings which will give opportunity for younger trainees and MAS faculty to join the fraternity and professional practice as minimal access surgeons after convocation held at the annual meeting.

Continuing with the ethos of the founding fathers and patrons of our association, the concept of mentor mentee model through physical hands on training is considered the gold standard of teaching to acquire the skills and virtues of a minimal access surgeon and in the same lines, the academic wing of SELSI, i.e. the International College of Laparoscopic Surgeons (ICLS) is soon coming out with a especially designed FCLS course for this hands on training.

I thank the leadership of the association and in particular the dynamic secretary Dr Amit Srivastava for helping me to deliver my responsibilities and look forward to receiving your inputs.