changeadmin88-year-old retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Punjab Police, Inderjit Singh Sidhu, has been announced as the recipient of the Padma Shri award 2026 for his social work in sanitation and cleanliness.
Inderjit Singh Sidhu has dedicated towards community service through daily street cleaning in Chandigarh’s Sector 49. Sidhu has voluntarily swept streets, collected garbage using a borrowed rehri (cart) or bag, and deposited waste at designated spots each morning.
Hailing from Punjab, Inderjeet Singh was recruited as an Inspector by the Punjab Public Service Commission in 1963, from Bugra village in Sangrur district.
In 1986, during the terrorist attacks, he was a city SP in Amritsar. After that, he came to Chandigarh and became DIG, from where he retired in 1996.
Sidhu’s post-retirement work highlights individual initiative in environmental conservation. He views cleanliness as “next to godliness” and aims to make the “City Beautiful” spotless like foreign cities.
His work has inspired neighbours, leading shopkeepers and locals to join Sidhu, such as helping with waste collection. His quiet action has sparked local support without direct preaching.
Chandigarh municipal officials call his initiative “deeply commendable,” recognising it as a citizen-led change that motivates the community.
One of his videos went viral on social media, and figures like Anand Mahindra shared it, noting, “In a world often obsessed with youth and speed, his slow but steady footsteps tell us that Purpose doesn’t retire. Service doesn’t age.”
The Padma Shri award to Inderjit Singh Sidhu will further inspire admiration, encourage personal responsibility, and produce tangible community impact.
Inderjit Sidhu is expected to receive her Padma award from the President of India at a ceremonial function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in March or April 2026.
Padma Awards are among the highest civilian Awards of the country and are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
The Awards are given in various disciplines/fields of activities, viz., art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order, and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.
For the year 2026, the President has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards, including 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri.
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