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British Kashmiri Identity Campaign

Be Counted, Get Kashmiris recognised in Census 2021!

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About BKIC

IntroductionGet recognized, get yourself registered as Kashmiri

The British Kashmiri diaspora is one of the most economically active and politically engaged ethnic minority communities in the United Kingdom. We play a major role in the socio-political, cultural, and economic life of the UK. An estimated one million-plus people sharing a common national identity and representing the diverse ethnic, religious and cultural heritage of the people of the State of Jammu Kashmir are currently living and working in all sectors within the United Kingdom.
Despite having representation in political life (MPs, Lords, Councillors), we still lack meaningful influence in shaping public policy and getting on the agenda for reducing racial discrimination, educational attainment gap, health inequalities and removing barriers in our social mobility.
This is because we are invisible in the data. Our national origin, ethnic identity and our main community languages Pahari, Kaeshur and Gojri are not recognised languages in the national Census and ethnic monitoring systems of the national Institutions e.g. NHS, DWP and in the majority of local authorities, housing associations and private sector employers.
We, the members of the British Kashmiri community, are organising ourselves as "British Kashmiri Identity Campaign" to end this invisibility and perpetual exclusion and racial inequality with the following vision, mission and aims and objectives.

Vision and Mission

Vision

Our vision is to inspire, engage and integrate Kashmiri diaspora within wider British society and to get our identity, contributions and cultural heritage recognised and included at all levels.

Mission

The British Kashmiri Identity Campaign exists:

  1. to advance the recognition of Kashmiri identity in the National Census and local ethnic monitoring systems;
  2. to enable effective engagement and participation of the community at all levels within British society;
  3. to ensure the community needs are fully identified and included in the policy and decision-making processes for health, employment, housing and other service provision across the UK.

I AM KASHMIRI#BritishKashmiris​ – Be Counted, Get Recognised!

Complete Census 2021​ form online & get your identity recognised as Kashmiri​ to achieve equality & inclusion at all levels in the UK.


Aims and Objectives

1. The Objective

To provide a national campaign and network that encourages and enables members of the British Kashmiri community to participate more effectively within the wider community;

2. How to get there?

To increase and co-ordinate opportunities for members of the British Kashmiri community to engage with employers, service providers and other decision-making bodies in order to achieve the inclusion of the community within their ethnic monitoring systems;

3. The Aim

To promote greater community cohesion;

4. The Mission

To celebrate the identity, cultures, and traditions of all the regions of the State of Jammu Kashmir and Kashmiri diaspora community as an integral part of British Society.

Be Counted

What is ethnic data monitoring?

The UK Government, Local Authorities and the Private Sector collect and use ethnic monitoring data to inform and influence policy-making at the local, regional and national level for advancing equality, inclusion and fostering good community relations in the United Kingdom.

Good data monitoring and analysis enable institutions and employers to identify under-representation in their workforce and help service providers to identify the specific needs of diverse communities and take appropriate action. It also makes it possible for diverse communities to get their contributions and achievements recognised and celebrated.

Why it is not making any difference for British Kashmiris?

Ethnic data monitoring is a legal requirement and has already made a significant difference for many minority communities but sadly not for British Kashmiris. This is because, despite being one of the largest ethnic minority communities in the UK, we are not recognised as “Kashmiri” and we are excluded from the identified ethnic monitoring categories on the National Census form.

Consequently, national institutions, local authorities, employers and businesses do not know the specific needs and problems of the British Kashmiris. Our community continues to experience structural barriers and discrimination and often vulnerable members of the Kashmiri community remain deprived of essential services and opportunities they desperately need for their health, wellbeing, education, employment and social mobility.

Why is this important?

We live in a data-rich society. Everything is driven and guided by data. But sadly, if you are not included in the Census 2021;

  • You do not exist;
  • You are not seen; you are not heard.
  • Your needs go on being ignored by service providers;
  • You go on being under-represented in the workforce of public and private sector employers;
  • You or your children may lose inheritance rights to your property in your place of origin and heritage the State of Jammy and Kashmir;
  • You or your children may lose their right to vote for self-determination in the plebiscite to determine the future status of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Yet you cannot challenge it. Because THERE IS NO DATA.

Now is the time to change this invisibility and underrepresentation in the system. Let us work together to be recognised and included in the national and local ethnic monitoring systems.

What do I need to do?Please always fill in the equality data monitoring forms;

  1. Make sure, when you are filling employment, social services, housing, NHS and marriage, childbirth or death registration forms, you tick Kashmiri if it’s available otherwise tick “Any Other Asian Background” and write in KASHMIRI.
  2. School Census Form – Make sure when you are filling in your children’s school data forms, you tick Kashmiri if it’s available otherwise tick “Any Other Asian Background” and write in KASHMIRI.
  3. The next national Census will be on 21st March 2021. Make sure you fill in the Census 2021 form online and in the ethnic/national origin section you tick Kashmiri if it’s available in the drop-down menu otherwise please tick “Any Other Asian Background” and write in KASHMIRI.

Get in touch

Join The British Kashmiri Identity Campaign Be visible, Get recognised in the 2021 Census. Take Action Now! Join the British Kashmiri Identity Campaign.

We need volunteers in your towns and cities to help create awareness of the British Kashmiri Identity Campaign, we need active volunteers to encourage members of the British Kashmiri community to engage the Census 2021 forms and fill the form correctly by ticking Asian other under the ethnicity section and writing "Kashmiri"

This census happens once every 10 years, you won’t get this chance for another decade, so we must take the opportunity to get better recognition, inclusion and equality for the British Kashmiri community.

If you would like to become part of our amazing team of volunteers and help with this crucial campaign please fill in the form below.

Fill Form

All data collected is in accordance with GDPR guidance and the Data Protection Act 2018. Any information collected will not be shared to any third parties.

If you have any questions or would like more information please contact us via e-mail:

Making Sure You Count In Census 2021 

There has been a fantastic response to Census 2021. Nine out of ten households across England and Wales have completed their questionnaire – but everyone must take part....

View on KDF.ngo  

۲۰۲۱ برطانیہ کی مردم شماری میں کشمیری شناخت کے اندارج کی اہمیت و آفادیت اور فارم پر کرنے کا درست طریقہ

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