88-year-old retired DIG shows Chandigarh way to cleanliness

Inder Jit Singh Sidhu, an 88-year-old retired IPS officer, begins his morning at 6. As most of the elders get ready to step out for a walk, Sidhu takes a rehri around Sector 49, collecting litter. He makes sure the area remains clean, repeating this every day, without fail.

Sidhu superannuated from the Punjab Police in 1996 as DIG and now lives in the IAS-IPS Officers’ Cooperative Society in Sector 49. Living here for many years, seeing garbage littered day in, day out would disgust him. He said he’s even complained to the authorities multiple times, but to no avail. Finally, he decided to take it upon himself. He says there’s no shame in doing such work, adding that cleanliness is next to godliness.

The people around him considered him mad. But their comments never deterred him. He takes the rehris of the sanitary workers when they lie unused, fills them and drops the litter at the designated spots. And now, even the residents are supporting him.

Sidhu said he was not happy with the ‘low rank’ Chandigarh got in the Swachh Survekshan, arguing that the city which is known to be the City Beautiful must climb to the top place of the podium.

He said though his contribution to the cleanliness of the city was minimal he was doing as much as his body allowed. Firm in his resolve, he said he was not concerned about other people’s opinion of him, adding he would further his endeavour for the betterment of the city till his last breath. His kin voice strong support.

He believes if every citizen were to pitch in to keep the city clean, Chandigarh would achieve that coveted top spot.

The work gives him satisfaction. He said pockets of the city were infested by the so-called Congress grass, and there were broken branches lying around at every corner, posing a safety hazard.

A resident of the area said he had not seen such a committed individual. He added that after watching the old man working to keep the area clean, he demanded the Municipal Corporation to make him the city’s ambassador of the Swachhta Abhiyan The administration must support Sidhuji and recognise his work, another resident said.

Clearly, with his undying resolve, Sidhu is showing the right path to the younger generations. At the time Chandigarh is celebrating securing the second position in the Super Swachh League, cities under the 3 to 10 lakh population category, in the prestigious Swachh Survekshan 2024–25, residents and authorities seem to have forgotten the contribution of such Samaritans.