Bindeshwar Pathak in Global Diversity List of 50 world leaders including Obama

Noted Indian social reformer and founder of NGO Sulabh, Bindeshwar Pathak, has been included in "The Global Diversity List" of 50 top world personalities by The Economist.

Others in the list, which recognises the achievements of individuals "who have used their position in public life to make an impact in diversity" include US President Barak Obama, Microsoft's Bill Gates, Spiritual guru The Dalai Lama and Pakistani Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai.

Pathak has been recognised as a "humanist, social reformer and diversity champion".

"Pathak works as an advocate for to the so-called 'untouchable' caste, so they may work, live and pray as a fully integrated part of Indian life. His work in the improvement of sanitation and production of bio-gas is changing health and wealth outcomes for the poorest people and is cited as one of the Globally Best Practice by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements", says the citation.

Another Indian in list is Purnima Mehta, director general of the American Institute of Indian Studies.

"The Global Diversity List", a comprehensive guide to the individuals who are putting diversity at the heart of human resources within the world's biggest organisations, is the first assessment of individuals and companies with outstanding commitment to diversity nominated by readers of "The Economist".

"The list marks a seminal moment for the diversity profession, by publicly recognising the world's most influential, innovative and creative diversity professionals in one comprehensive list for the first time. The list sets the benchmark of exceptional performance in the profession today and creates the role models for the diversity professionals of tomorrow," said member of the Global Diversity List's Advisory Panel, Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, former head of diversity at Google for Europe, Middle East & Africa.

The aim of "The Global Diversity List" is "to create the definitive global diversity standard that covers every strand of diversity, in every country, in the world".

Several thousand nominations were received from every corner of the planet. "The Global Diversity List" was ratified by an independent panel of assessment of individuals and companies demonstrating a concrete commitment to diversity.

The list has been welcomed by global corporate giants with many of them becoming founding partners. Companies including Standard Chartered, Barclays, KPMG, BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, WorldPay, UBS and AT Kearney have joined this elite group.