A FORMER civil engineer who has helped a project to tackle the problem of human trafficking in north east India has been presented with a prestigious award at the House of Lords.

Robin Hamilton has been a driving force behind the Kalimpong project, which provides a vocational training centre and shelter home for young women and girls who are at risk of being coerced into prostitution, slavery or forced marriage.

The 70-year-old was invited to London last month, where he was presented with the prestigious Rotary Champion of Change Award.

Robin, who is a member of the Dunbar Rotary Club, was nominated for the award by Rotary District 1020, which covers most of south and central Scotland.

The citation for the award reads: “Robin Hamilton of the Rotary Club of Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland, whose involvement with the Kalimpong Project has helped tackle the problem of human trafficking in north east India by providing shelter homes and vocational training centres."

Robin became involved with the project more than four years ago.

He said: “I went along with my wife to do a meeting to do with twinning. I met this chap from north east India, who happened to be a fellow Rotarian.

“We got chatting and he was co-ordinator for some of the twinning churches and we chatted for quite a long time.

“I asked if there was any way we could help, as I was vice-president and about to become president.

“The next thing, I got an email from Calcutta saying we have got this project.

“From then on we have been working back and forth by email to get the whole thing off the ground.”

The project involved 16 Rotary clubs in Scotland, England, India and the Czech Republic, together with three Rotary districts.

In India, a number of NGOs, the churches of north east India, local community groups, the Scottish University Mission and national and local government organisations have all participated.

The ceremony was hosted by Baron Inglewood of Hutton in the Forest and the Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, presented the awards.

Robin, of Bruntsfield Crescent, told the Courier it was an honour to be recognised for his efforts.

He said: “It was quite a surprise. It was a great event in the House of Lords and we got a tour from Baroness Helen Liddell and kept seeing famous faces.”

Robin was accompanied by his wife Carol and fellow Dunbar Rotarians Elaine O’Brien (assistant district governor for Rotary District 1020) and John and Thelma Band.

Later this year, Robin will head out to see the project for the first time as a group of nine Rotarians from Dunbar visit Kalimpong as guests of the Kalimpong Rotary Club to see the results of their efforts.