Sardar Aftab Khan
London: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a suite of Census 2021 bulletins , which give insight into the cultural identity of people in England and Wales in March last year. These cover ethnicity, national identity, language and religion.
“The Census 2021 data for ethnic group identity is now available to public bodies and Kashmiri community groups to inform and influence public policy for advancing race equality”, the British Kashmiri Inclusion Campaign (BKIC) Spokesperson, Sardar Aftab Khan said.
Welcoming the recognition of Kashmiri Identity and the inclusion of Kashmiri ethnic group data in the Census 2021 data, Sardar Aftab Khan observed that “today’s data highlights the increasingly multi-cultural society we live in. The percentage of people identifying their ethnic group as ‘Kashmiri’, continues to increase and the number of people choosing to specify their ethnic group ‘Kashmiri’ through the “Any other ethnic group” write-in response option has almost tripled since Census 2011.
An analysis of the Census 2021 data found that the number of Kashmiris living in England and Wales has increased by 155% (58,066) (ONS. 2021). However, the picture varies depending on where you live. There was a fivefold increase in Kashmiri communities in some local authority areas like Slough, Sandwell, Stoke-on-Trent, Dudley, Wakefield, Calderdale, Bolton, Bury, and Newcastle. There is also a 4% rise in Pahari speakers
Mr Khan said that despite all odds against us and COVID-19 lockdown restrictions to in-person meetings and limited assistance to fill in complicated Census 2021 forms. Thanks to the tireless online campaign efforts of the BKIC volunteers and community groups, we managed to mobilise the Kashmiri community to participate in Census 2021. We are also grateful for the support of ONS, social media activists, and Web-TV channels such as Jammu Kashmir TV, Pahari Channel, and WNTVUK. Also, the community radio stations such as Crescent Radio (Rochdale) and Community Radio stations in Birmingham and Leeds have supported BKIC Census 2021 campaign.
Mr. Khan has called upon all Government departments, local authorities, NHS, housing associations, businesses, third sector and public services providers to step up their efforts to address significant gaps in their service provisions to end the inequalities experienced by the British Kashmiris.
BKIC will continue to campaign for the inclusion of the critical issues affecting the lives and livelihoods of British Kashmiris on the agenda. The BKIC wants to be part of developing robust race equality action plans at the local and national level so that British Kashmiri are included and benefit from all “levelling up” programmes, projects, and initiatives for diverse communities across England and Wales.
