Chandigarh, September 15
Kendriya Vidyalaya-I, Chandi Mandir, won the football title in the ongoing Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Sports Meet played at Chandi Mandir today.

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Subathu, was declared runner-up. In the semifinals, Kendriya Vidyalaya I defeated Kendriya Vidyalaya, Yol, by three goals to one, while Kendriya Vidyalaya, Subathu, beat Kendriya Vidyalaya II, Ambala, 3-2.

In shooting, Purva Bhatti of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 31, excelled in air rifle open sight, while Sandeep Kumar of Kendriya Vidyalaya 2, Ferozepore, won laurels in the air pistol event.

Chandigarh, September 15
Floorball has made its debut in Chandigarh. This sport having its roots in Sweden and Finland is all set to take off in India for the first time when an Indian team will take part in the Asian Floorball Championships to be held in Singapore from December 8.

Stating this here today, the Vice-President, Technical Committee, Floorball Federation of India, Mr Jarkko Harkonen, who is from Finland, said though at national level there were many tournaments, at international level the federation was unable to send its team.

Mr Harkonen was here to impart training to youngsters and to further promote the game in this part of the country.

In a brief interaction at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, where a training camp is being held, Mr Harkonen said the second national meet in the men and women’s section would be held at Lucknow from November 20.

He said the sport is very exciting and quite similar to ice hockey and roller hockey. In India the game could be played on the smoother surface.

The stick is made of carbon fiber and the ball is made of plastic. The playing ground is 20 m wide and 40 m long.

The game is divided in three periods of 20 minutes each.

Mr Harkonen said at present the sport is being played in more than 30 countries. In the forthcoming meet in Singapore, teams of Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand are expected to participate.

Regarding the promotion of the sport at the national level, he said more than 15 teams are expected to participate in the meet at Lucknow.

Mr Harkonen said for the past four months he had been touring various parts of the country to promote the game.

Mr Siraj Ansari is the president of the floorball federation and it is for the first time that the Chandigarh unit has been formed. Mr Ravinder Talwar has been appointed president of the Floorball Federation of Chandigarh. The training camp will conclude on September 18.

Chandigarh, September 15
The Postal Department has offered to open a special counter for senior citizens on Senior Citizens’ Day on October 1. The Chief Postmaster-General of the Punjab and Chandigarh Circle, Mr L.K. Puri, in a letter to the Chandigarh Senior Citizens Association, said the department would open the accounts and hand over the documents on the spot for a special scheme launched by the Central Government on August 2.

Mr Puri today directed Mr Nirmaljit Singh, Senior Superintendent of Posts, to coordinate with the association chairman, Maj-General J.S. Bhullar, for the opening of the counter. The department would also celebrate 150 years of the launch of the postal system in India on October 1.

At least 1,000 senior citizens had subscribed to the scheme and the department netted over Rs 30 crore. Chandigarh performed well, with at least 400 senior citizens depositing about Rs 13.9 crore.

The Chandigarh Senior Citizens Association also organised a seminar as a part of its month-long programme at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10. Prof M.M. Puri, a former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, gave a historical perspective of the role of senior citizens and how they had been treated.

Dr Rajesh Gill, Professor of Sociology, Panjab University, said there was a need to change the attitudes of senior citizens and the younger generation to fill the generation gap. Maj-Gen Rajendra Nath, chairman of Blind School, said despite age-related disabilities, senior citizens could be useful to society.

Ms Radhika Singh, a student of the Government College for Girls, Sector 11, spoke about her relationship with her grandparents. “It is because of them that I have never felt lonely or insecure. I always seek their guidance more than I seek of my parents. Senior citizens are the pillars of society,” she said.

Mr P.H. Vaishnav, president of the Chandigarh Senior Citizens Association, said with improved health facilities and increased longevity, senior citizens could easily enjoy life. He said the retired had time and experience, which could be devoted to the service of needy senior citizens.

Mohali/Kharar, September 15
A number of employees were found coming late to the office during a surprise check conducted by the SDM, Mr M.L. Sharma, at the Municipal Council office here today.

The SDM said eight employees had reported late for duty while four were found to be absent. Two clerks and an inspector came to the office at 9.10 a.m. While two more clerks and an accountant reached the office at 9.15 a.m. A junior assistant came to the office at 9.25 a.m. while a sewadar reached at 9.35 a.m.

Three sewadars were found absent from duty and one of them, Darshan Singh, had been absent since August 1. A clerk was also absent from the office since September 1.

The SDM has asked the council authorities to seek an explanation from the employees concerned and submit a report in this regard.

Mr Sharma said a report prepared in connection with the check had been sent to the Ropar Deputy Commissioner for information and further action.

The SDM of Kharar, Mr Sukhvinder Singh Gill, also checked attendance of employees in three offices here today and found a number of them absent from duty. The checking was conducted in view of complaints regarding employees coming late to offices which caused inconvenience to the public.

The SDM went to the Food and Supplies Department office at 9.07 a.m. and found two inspectors, a sub-inspector and a sewadar not present in office. Out of the two senior officials, one had gone to training while the other was on medical leave.

At 9.12 a.m. he visited the office of the Market Committee and found that two accountants, six auction recorders, an electrician and a sewadar had not reached the office. He went to the Tehsil office at 9.20 a.m. and saw that a junior assistant, two clerks, reader of the Naib Tehsildar, office kanungo, a driver and an employee of Kanungo office were absent. Even the Naib Tehsildar, Mr R.S. Bal, reached the office at 9.25 p.m. As many as four officials were found to be on leave.

A report in this regard has been sent to the office of the Ropar Deputy Commissioner for further action.