Delhi to fix local men's wee problem

The Delhi government is compiling a guide to help its residents spruce up on etiquette before the Commonwealth Games, news reports said at the weekend.

The do's and don'ts manual compiled by the Delhi Tourism department includes warnings not to spit or urinate in public.

Thousands of visitors are expected for the Commonwealth Games to be held October 3-14.

"We want to change Delhi's public culture; their behaviour towards each other and to guests so that they are courteous," Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said.

Men are routinely seen spitting or urinating in public in India.

And Delhi residents have often been criticised for their rudeness.

Home Minister P Chidambaram, talking about preparations for the games in September 2009, had criticised citizens for being rude, loud and discourteous and said they needed an "attitude makeover" to be able to play the part of good hosts.

The good-manners manual, called Delhi Celebrates, will help the citizens portray the city as friendly, clean and safe, Delhi Tourism chief Rina Ray said.

"We want to tell them don't urinate in public, don't spit, keep your houses and shops clean, keep public transport safe and such things," Ray said.

One reason people urinate in public is a shortage of public toilets and the local government is constructing 300 urinals in collaboration with private fast food chains, Municipal Corporation of Delhi official Amiya Chandra said.

The government was also preparing a toilet map.

"Apart from teaching Delhi-ites the Ps and Qs, we should also teach them pees and poos," Chandra said.