The city fathers want to civilize Delhi, the capital and the epitome of India. It is a true but sad commentary, which implies that the citizenry of the capital is uncivilized, uncouth and uncultured. Strangely enough the need to civilize Delhi has been felt only when it is to be presented to the outside world during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Logically speaking, if there were no commonwealth Games, there would be no need to civilize the capital. Further, cleanliness is not essential for a civilized, cultured and healthy living; it is to be acquired only because it is to be shown to the world. Civilizing Delhi is a good objective, though for wrong reasons.

According to Bertrand Russell, if the cultural advancement does not keep pace with the economic progress, the results can be disastrous. This observation cannot be better illustrated than by the state of cleanliness in Delhi. Delhi is one of the fastest growing states in India where the per capita income and the purchasing power of an average Delhiite are increasing by leaps and bounds. This is evident by the growing number of cars, malls, real estate prices and numerous other economic indicators.
The economic progress is however inversely matched by the cultural deterioration and paucity of civic sense. This is amply demonstrated by the citizens of the metropolis who sully the face of Delhi by spitting, urinating and defecating indiscriminately everywhere.

The MCD intends to enforce the civic sense by imposing prohibitive on-the-spot- fines upon the habitual offenders of the civic laws.
 
It is deploying 1,000 sanitary inspectors and magistrates. It also proposes to enlist the cooperation of the private agencies to fine the violators. "We might outsource the project as it is done in Mumbai and share the fine money with the private players. However, we would also be bringing out a public awareness campaign to educate people. We want to make sure that before the Commonwealth games 2010 people of Delhi are much more civilized," said Vijendra Gupta, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the MCD.

Since the lack of public conveniences is cited as one of the main reasons for people urinating in public places, the civic body proposes to build double storey urinals for both men and women.