Padma Awards 2026: Former IPS officer Inderjit Singh Sidhu continues to serve the public long after retirement, though in a way many may find unusual. Instead of resting, he now sweeps and cleans streets in Chandigarh, helping maintain the city’s reputation as the “City Beautiful.”
At 88 years old, Sidhu has been selected as one of the 45 Padma Shri awardees in the “unsung heroes” category ahead of Republic Day 2026.
आधिकारिक सूत्रों के अनुसार, चंडीगढ़ के इंदरजीत सिंह सिद्धू को सामाजिक कार्य के क्षेत्र में वर्ष 2026 का पद्म श्री पुरस्कार प्रदान किया जाएगा।#PeoplesPadma | #PadmaAwards2026 | #PadmaAwardsOnAIR pic.twitter.com/SVCWIAAORo
— आकाशवाणी समाचार (@AIRNewsHindi) January 25, 2026
Who is Former IPS Officer Inderjit Singh Sidhu?
Inderjit Singh Sidhu is a 1964-batch IPS officer who retired as a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) from the Punjab Police in 1996. He lives in Chandigarh’s Sector 49 in the IAS-IPS Officers’ Cooperative Society.
Nearly three decades after retirement, he has taken up voluntary cleanliness work in his neighbourhood. His efforts have turned him into a local inspiration and now a national awardee.
Inderjit Singh Sidhu Daily Routine: Cleaning Streets Since Early Morning
Sidhu follows a strict self-assigned routine. Every day at 6 am, he steps out to collect litter from nearby streets. He says he had repeatedly complained to civic authorities about garbage but did not see action.
“So I decided to do it myself. There is no shame in cleaning. Cleanliness is next to godliness,” he told ANI last year.
#WATCH | Chandigarh: Engaged in the selfless service of cleaning his society at the age of 87, retired DIG, Punjab Police, Inderjit Singh Sidhu, says, “I like a clean place, so I try to clean. It will be good if the parking at this market area is clean… If you visit any foreign… pic.twitter.com/YrCG6NYkP0
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2025
From Solo Effort to Community Movement
In the beginning, Sidhu used a bag and sometimes even an abandoned rickshaw to gather waste and dispose of it properly. At first, some people called him “crazy.” However, his consistent work slowly inspired others. Today, his family and neighbours support and join his efforts.
Inderjit Singh Sidhu Aim to Make Chandigarh No. 1 in Cleanliness
Sidhu believes Chandigarh should aim for the top rank in the Swachh Bharat Sarvekshan. “If you visit foreign countries, their streets are spotless. Why can’t ours be the same?” he said.
Although he does not see his actions as a major social contribution, he says the work gives him deep personal satisfaction. “I like a clean place, so I clean. I’ll keep doing it as long as I can,” he told ANI.
Inderjit Singh Sidhu Was Praised By Anand Mahindra
Sidhu’s work went viral on social media last year. Several well-known personalities praised him, including industrialist Anand Mahindra.
“He says he wasn’t happy with the ‘low rank’ Chandigarh got in the Swachh Survekshan listing. But instead of complaining, he chooses action… a quiet, persistent belief in a better world… Purpose doesn’t retire. Service doesn’t age,” the Mahindra Group Chairman wrote on X.
