From DIG to Broom Warrior: 88-Year-Old Ex-IPS Officer Honored with Padma Shri for Cleaning Streets
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News18•28-01-2026, 10:43
From DIG to Broom Warrior: 88-Year-Old Ex-IPS Officer Honored with Padma Shri for Cleaning Streets
- •Retired IPS officer Indrajit Singh Sidhu, 88, received the Padma Shri in 2026 for his voluntary work cleaning Chandigarh's streets.
- •Sidhu, a former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Punjab Police, began cleaning streets daily after retirement due to dissatisfaction with municipal services.
- •Every morning at 6 AM, he sweeps and collects garbage, inspiring family and neighbors to join his efforts.
- •Initially mocked, his perseverance earned him respect and recognition as a local hero, embodying the spirit of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
- •His work went viral in 2025, praised by Anand Mahindra, and he was recently informed of his Padma Shri selection.
Why It Matters: Indrajit Singh Sidhu, an 88-year-old former IPS officer, earned a Padma Shri for his dedicated street cleaning.
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