Mumbai, Sep 19 (IANS): Industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, actress Deepika Padukone and member of European Parliament Nirj Deva were among achievers who were conferred the global awards instituted by NGO Priyadarshni Academy, a representative said here Wednesday.

At the 28th anniversary Global Awards function that concluded late Tuesday awards were presented to eight people of different nationalities.

The awardees were Kumar Mangalam Birla, Dr Samir Brahmachari, Nirj Deva, Dr Jeanne Devos, Aditya Puri, Dr Jacques Rogozinski, Deepika Padukone and Juan Schiaretti.

Present at the event were Priyadarshni Academy president Nanik Rupani, chairman of the global awards advisory committee Dr R.A. Mashelkar, union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad and Maharashtra legislative assembly Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil.

Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, was conferred the Harish Mahindra memorial global award for outstanding contribution to the globalization of Indian industry.

Dr Samir Brahmachari, director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, was conferred the award for outstanding contribution to science-led inclusive innovations; and Nirj Deva, member of European Parliament, received the global award for outstanding contribution to international development.

Dr Jeanne Devos, national coordinator of the domestic workers movement, was received the Ramkrishna Bajaj Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to protecting the rights of domestic workers.

The biennial Smita Patil memorial award was conferred upon Hindi film actress Deepika Padukone.

Aditya Puri, managing director, HDFC Bank, was honoured for outstanding contribution as a visionary leader in banking.

Dr Jacques Rogozinski, general manager of the Inter-American Investment Corporation, US, was bestowed the award for outstanding contribution to economic development leveraging on small and medium enterprises.

Juan Schiaretti, a political leader from Argentina, received the award for outstanding contributions to improved living conditions of the poor and political transparency.