05-16-2005, 07:46 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Delhiites have the worst civic sense: DU study </b>
Sonia Sarkar/ New Delhi
They spit and litter anywhere on roads. They encroach public spaces. They are unapologetic if they push aside someone and don't hesitate to use abusive language in public. This particular species might sound familiar as they are non other than Delhiites.
In a recent study conducted by the Delhi University's (DU) Anthropology department, it was observed that Delhiites have the worst civic sense, its immaterial whether the person is a resident of the congested Walled City or the elite community member of the posh Vasant Kunj. In the study, behavioural pattern among residents in 20 different parts of the city was observed for 30 minutes, for seven consecutive days. Observations were made on how they spit, litter, encroach into public places, their social etiquettes and traffic sense.
"People of all age groups spit incautiously anywhere and everywhere. They were also found throwing things everywhere," was the observations made while following the behavioural habits of the Chandni Chowk residents. Similar behaviour was observed in Bhogal and Vasant Kunj areas where the denizens did not use "public toilets" and instead "used walls to urinate." They were also caught spitting paan, gutka or saliva on to the roads."
Most of these perpetrators are between the age group of 21 to 50. If their disgusting habits were objected upon, these denizens defend their conduct and come up with a smart excuse. "It is nature's call and needs immediate attention, so we cannot wait around searching for a public toilet, was the immediate response from people whose actions we objected to," said Fazia Fazhana, who studied the behavioural patterns among Bhogal residents.
While observing the residents of Shalimar Bagh, occupied primarily by the high profile government officers, it was found that they lack "social etiquettes". "Middle aged men are caught using abusive words during normal conversation and are unrepentant and aggressive at times even if they are the ones guilty of misbehaviour on roads," said Abha Mishra, who observed the Shalimar Bagh residents.
In almost the entire city, people travelling in four wheelers are frequently caught flouting traffic rules. "Parked cars often encroach public places, commuters on four wheelers and two wheelers are often caught breaking signals and loud music constantly blares out of cars," revealed the study, which was also conducted in Lodhi colony, Connaught Place, Inderpuri, Mukherjee Nagar, Pitampura, Yamuna Vihar, Inderpuri among others.
"This observation aims at studying the behavioural pattern of the city residents. Though, a diversity was noticed in the citizens' behaviour, according to the area they reside in, but not many differences were found in the general spitting behaviour," said Prof P C Joshi of the department, who led the team.
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Sonia Sarkar/ New Delhi
They spit and litter anywhere on roads. They encroach public spaces. They are unapologetic if they push aside someone and don't hesitate to use abusive language in public. This particular species might sound familiar as they are non other than Delhiites.
In a recent study conducted by the Delhi University's (DU) Anthropology department, it was observed that Delhiites have the worst civic sense, its immaterial whether the person is a resident of the congested Walled City or the elite community member of the posh Vasant Kunj. In the study, behavioural pattern among residents in 20 different parts of the city was observed for 30 minutes, for seven consecutive days. Observations were made on how they spit, litter, encroach into public places, their social etiquettes and traffic sense.
"People of all age groups spit incautiously anywhere and everywhere. They were also found throwing things everywhere," was the observations made while following the behavioural habits of the Chandni Chowk residents. Similar behaviour was observed in Bhogal and Vasant Kunj areas where the denizens did not use "public toilets" and instead "used walls to urinate." They were also caught spitting paan, gutka or saliva on to the roads."
Most of these perpetrators are between the age group of 21 to 50. If their disgusting habits were objected upon, these denizens defend their conduct and come up with a smart excuse. "It is nature's call and needs immediate attention, so we cannot wait around searching for a public toilet, was the immediate response from people whose actions we objected to," said Fazia Fazhana, who studied the behavioural patterns among Bhogal residents.
While observing the residents of Shalimar Bagh, occupied primarily by the high profile government officers, it was found that they lack "social etiquettes". "Middle aged men are caught using abusive words during normal conversation and are unrepentant and aggressive at times even if they are the ones guilty of misbehaviour on roads," said Abha Mishra, who observed the Shalimar Bagh residents.
In almost the entire city, people travelling in four wheelers are frequently caught flouting traffic rules. "Parked cars often encroach public places, commuters on four wheelers and two wheelers are often caught breaking signals and loud music constantly blares out of cars," revealed the study, which was also conducted in Lodhi colony, Connaught Place, Inderpuri, Mukherjee Nagar, Pitampura, Yamuna Vihar, Inderpuri among others.
"This observation aims at studying the behavioural pattern of the city residents. Though, a diversity was noticed in the citizens' behaviour, according to the area they reside in, but not many differences were found in the general spitting behaviour," said Prof P C Joshi of the department, who led the team.
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