Mysuru installs mirrors on public walls to deter urination

The Mysuru City Corporation installed mirrors on a compound wall to discourage people from urinating in public ^[1].

This initiative represents a shift toward psychological interventions to maintain urban hygiene. By forcing individuals to see their own reflection, city officials aim to create a sense of self-consciousness that prevents open urination in high-traffic areas ^[2].

The mirrors were placed on a wall near the rural bus stand in Mysuru, Karnataka ^[1]. This specific location was targeted due to the high volume of commuters and pedestrians who frequent the area. The strategy relies on the theory that people are less likely to engage in socially taboo behaviors when they are confronted with their own image ^[2].

This effort is part of the broader Swachh Survekshan cleanliness drive ^[2]. This national campaign focuses on improving sanitation, and waste management across Indian cities to raise their rankings in annual cleanliness surveys. The use of mirrors is an unconventional addition to traditional methods, such as installing more public toilets or issuing fines.

Videos of the installation have circulated on social media, sparking a wider conversation about urban management in India ^[1]. While some view the tactic as an innovative solution to a persistent problem, others question the long-term efficacy of such psychological nudges. The municipal authorities have not yet released data on whether the mirrors have led to a measurable decrease in public urination at the bus stand ^[2].

The project remains a focal point of the city's current sanitation strategy as it seeks to balance infrastructure development with behavioral change ^[1].