Anyone who has traveled to India has likely witnessed numerous men peeing along the side of the road. It happens in the city and rural areas alike.
Part of the problem is certainly poverty - many people do not have access to toilets and running water. Alongside railroad tracks, it's a common sight to see men, women and children bathing and conducting other activities in full view of passing trains.
But there's a huge social problem where people (ok, men), think it's fine to do this in public. In the evening, you'll see men stop their cars or bikes to relieve themselves in not so private places.
Last weekend in my neighborhood, two stopped in the middle of a bridge. A guy who used to work in my office told a story of how he stopped on his way home one night. (He was subsequently hit by a motorcycle and slightly injured, so I guess he learned his lesson).
It seems that the New Delhi government is finally taking steps to curb such behaviors. Of course, it's mainly because the city doesn't want to be embarrassed when it hosts the Commonwealth Games next year, but that's fine with me if that's what it takes.
The city is launching a new ad campaign on billboards intended to "shame" people into proper behaviors to help clean up the city. It will tackle spitting, littering, and my personal favoring, urinating in public, all accepted norms here.
New Delhi launches no peeing in public campaign (CNN.com)
I don't know if it will actually work, but it's worth a try. And it's definitely better than doing nothing at all.
Part of the problem is certainly poverty - many people do not have access to toilets and running water. Alongside railroad tracks, it's a common sight to see men, women and children bathing and conducting other activities in full view of passing trains.
But there's a huge social problem where people (ok, men), think it's fine to do this in public. In the evening, you'll see men stop their cars or bikes to relieve themselves in not so private places.
Last weekend in my neighborhood, two stopped in the middle of a bridge. A guy who used to work in my office told a story of how he stopped on his way home one night. (He was subsequently hit by a motorcycle and slightly injured, so I guess he learned his lesson).
It seems that the New Delhi government is finally taking steps to curb such behaviors. Of course, it's mainly because the city doesn't want to be embarrassed when it hosts the Commonwealth Games next year, but that's fine with me if that's what it takes.
The city is launching a new ad campaign on billboards intended to "shame" people into proper behaviors to help clean up the city. It will tackle spitting, littering, and my personal favoring, urinating in public, all accepted norms here.
New Delhi launches no peeing in public campaign (CNN.com)
I don't know if it will actually work, but it's worth a try. And it's definitely better than doing nothing at all.
