The Government of India launched the Swachha Bharat Abhiyan as a national movement on October 2nd, 2014. Through its network of 56 Regional Centres and nearly 2000 Learner Support Centres spread across all states of country, IGNOU has undertaken various activities under the Swachha Bharat Abhiyan since its inception. A number of activities were also organized at IGNOU main campus located in New Delhi. The RCs performed various activities as a part of mission ranging from sensitization of the RC staff and villagers through awareness meetings at RCs and LSCs, Swachhta Rallies, Swachhta Pledge, Cleaning of the office and surroundings, Plantation activity, cleanliness drives, Poster making and Slogan writing competitions on Swachhta and other such activities.

Swachh Bharat Summer lntemships-2018
In pursuance of the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission the Government simultaneously launched the Swachh Bharat Summer lntemships-2018 aiming at enrolling the students for promoting ‘swachhta’ or cleanliness in the villages. This internship was jointly launched by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in association with the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and is named 'Swachh Bharat Summer Internship - 100 Hours of Swachhata'. Under this scheme the students were invited to select a village of their choice, and devote at least 100 hours of work with the village community for building a lasting system for improving the overall sanitation and hygiene in the village.
The Regional Centres very proactively, conducted awareness meeting with students to sensitize them about the internship programme. 278 IGNOU students registered under Swachh Bharat Summer Internship Programme. Subsequently under the guidance of the academics of Regional Centres they performed voluntary work covering various aspects of the internship as follows:

1. Information-Education-Communication activities like increasing the awareness of people about sanitation related issues that triggers a change in sanitation related behavior, behavior around open defecation, hygiene practices; solid/ liquid waste management etc.
2. Organized sensitization campaigns on better sanitation practices like using a toilet, hand washing, health and hygiene awareness, Nukkad Nataks, song and dance performances on Swachhta, Door to door meetings towards behaviour change with respect to sanitation, Village / School-level Rallies to generate awareness about sanitation.
3. Waste collection drives in households like segregation of solid waste into non-biodegradable and biodegradable waste
4. Mobilized community and panchayat to build compost pits, interacted with Panchayats draw up plans for installation of biogas plants
5. Cleaning of streets, drains and back alleys through awareness drives etc.

Out of 278 volunteers enrolled, 22 interns had successfully completed the Swachh Bharat Summer Internship. The activities carried out by the students can be accessed on the Swachh Bharat Summer Internship website: sbsi.mygov.in

Swachh Campus Ranking Award- 2018 and 2019
Indira Gandhi National Open University has been awarded Fifth and Secoend Rank in Swachh Campus Ranking 2018 and 2019 respectively of Higher Educational Institutions under University (Non-Residential) category by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India.
Besides this, university was also awarded with Swachh Campus Ranking 2018 for maintaining, promoting and encouraging culture of Swachhta in Higher Educational Institutions in the Country.