As Delhi races against time to complete all unfinished tasks ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, it faces a daunting work of inculcating civic sense among Delhiites, generally known for being rude and inhospitable.

Even the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had to ask the residents to "behave as citizens of a big, good international city".

His appeal followed Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's announcement that her government would launch a campaign to "change the way the society behaves so that it becomes more caring and also sharing".

Germany and Beijing also underwent a change in the way people behaved before hosting major sporting events.

However, the advices seem to have not convinced many Delhiites who are expected to receive about 1,00,000 tourists and 9,000 athletes and officials from the 52 Commonwealth countries during the Games.

Many fear that the visitors will take back to their home memories of piles of rubbish, men spitting and urinating in public, rickety transport services and rude taxi drivers.

"I have a lot of good experiences in Delhi, but I find the people are little aggressive and careless," said Red Constantino, head of ADB Forum, a Manila-based NGO monitoring ADB funding in South Asia.

"I have observed that people often ignore traffic rules, and spit and litter in public places and jump to an argument if being objected," Red said.

"It is hard to ignore the fact that this city which has a wealth of historical treasures is treated very poorly by many of its inhabitants," he said.

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