Archive · 26 Jan 2026
Retired DIG Inderjit Singh Sidhu Honored with Padma Shri 2026
Inderjit Singh Sidhu is an 88-year-old retired police officer who has been awarded the Padma Shri for his amazing work cleaning the streets of his neighbourhood in Chandigarh.
After retiring in 1996, he noticed that the streets near his home were dirty and no one was doing anything about it.
So, he decided to take action himself.
Every morning, he sweeps the streets and picks up trash.
His efforts have inspired many people in his community, and even famous industrialist Anand Mahindra praised him on social media.
Sidhu believes that cleanliness is very important and wants Chandigarh to be as clean as the streets in foreign countries.
He says he will keep cleaning as long as he can because he loves having a clean place to live.
Inderjit Singh Sidhu, an 88-year-old retired DIG, has been awarded the Padma Shri 2026 for his civic service.
He cleans the streets of Chandigarh's Sector 49 every morning to improve cleanliness in his neighbourhood.
Sidhu started cleaning after civic authorities did not respond to his complaints about garbage and neglected public spaces.
His efforts have inspired neighbours and gained praise from industrialist Anand Mahindra on social media.
Sidhu is motivated by a desire to see Chandigarh rank higher in national cleanliness surveys.
- Who
- Inderjit Singh Sidhu, an 88-year-old retired Deputy Inspector General of Police
- What
- Has been awarded the Padma Shri 2026 for his civic service
- When
- Recognized in the Republic Day 2026 honours
- Where
- Chandigarh, India
- Why
- For his dedication to cleaning streets and improving public spaces in his neighbourhood
- Name
- Inderjit Singh Sidhu
- Age
- 88 years
- Previous Role
- Deputy Inspector General of Police (Punjab Police)
- Current Activity
- Cleans streets in Chandigarh's Sector 49
- Award
- Padma Shri 2026
- Motivation
- Improving Chandigarh's cleanliness rankings
- Retirement Year
- 1996
- Residence
- IAS-IPS Officers’ Cooperative Society, Sector 49, Chandigarh
