New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS): People in the old Delhi area are tired of living in the midst of "decay and apathy" and have given a good response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a clean India, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said Monday.

Leading a cleanliness drive in the area, the minister, who represents the Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency which includes the area, said: "I have detected good public response in the walled city to the prime minister's call for cleanliness."

"The people here are tired of living in the midst of decay and apathy. Over the past two days, I have visited many parts of old Delhi and motivated the people to come forward and become partners of civic authorities to keep their neighbourhood clean. They are very favourable to the idea," he said according to an official release.

Harsh Vardhan was accompanied by civic officials, community leaders and party workers.

"I thought that the auspicious day of Bakr Eid should be the most appropriate day of launching a social movement centred around sanitation and health," he said.

The minister directed officials accompanying him to build a few more public toilets in the area as the present number is not sufficient.