New Delhi

Mohammad Shareef, popularly known as Shareef Chacha, and is famous for having cremated 25,000 unclaimed bodies, has received the Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday.

Shareef, a cycle mechanic of Faizabad received the award on a wheelchair. Earlier, the government had made a special concession for the Padma Shri award to be presented to Shareef Chacha at his home as he feared for his life when he was seriously ill during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chacha had written to President Ram Nath Kovind that he wishes to see the medal in his lifetime.

The giving away of the Padma Awards had been deferred for two consective terms due to the pandemic.

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"President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Shri Mohammad Shareef for Social Work. He is a cycle mechanic turned social worker. He performs the last rites of unclaimed dead bodies of all religions with full dignity," tweeted Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The government had also intervened to get Sharif Chacha treated in a hospotal and he was also given a house to live in.

Padma Shri Award is the country's fourth-highest civilian award. The ceremony for presenting Padma awards was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.

President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Shri Mohammad Shareef for Social Work. He is a cycle mechanic turned social worker. He performs last rites of unclaimed dead bodies of all religions with full dignity. pic.twitter.com/ccJlTIsqNH

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 8, 2021

The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.

The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service).

The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.

A total of 119 people were conferred with Padma Awards 2020 by President Kovind. The list comprises seven Padma Vibhushan awardees, 10 Padma Bhushan awardees and 102 Padma Shri awardees. 29 of the awardees are women, 16 posthumous awardees and one transgender awardee.