Swedish furniture retailing giant IKEA will contribute 12.4 million euro (Rs 92.84 crore) to provide safe water and sanitation to one million people in India and Indonesia through Water.Org.

• IKEA Foundation has announced a new grant of 12.4 million euro to Water.Org on the occasion of the World Water Day (March 22).
• IKEA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of INGKA Foundation, the owner of the IKEA Group of companies.
• The World Bank estimates that 2% of communicable diseases in India are linked to unsafe water and the lack of hygiene practices, and 50% of India’s population continues to practice open defecation, the statement said.
• In Indonesia, more than 33 million people lack access to safe water and 100 million lack access to improved sanitation facilities.

IKEA

• Ikea is a multinational group of companies that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture (such asbeds, chairs and desks), appliances and home accessories.
• As of January 2008, it is the world’s largest furniture retailer.
• Founded in Sweden in 1943 by then-17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad, who was listed as one of the world’s richest people in 2013, the company’s name is an acronym that consists of the initials of Ingvar Kamprad, Elmtaryd (the farm where he grew up), and Agunnaryd (his hometown in Småland, south Sweden).
• The company is known for its modern architectural designs for various types of appliances and furniture, and its interior design work is often associated with an eco-friendly simplicity.

• The company is responsible for approximately 1% of world commercial-product wood consumption, making it one of the largest users of wood in the retail sector.