Rochdale organisation campaigns for 'improved data monitoring' to 'better support Kashmiri community'

The Rochdale organisation Kashmir Development Foundation (KDF) is campaigning for improved data monitoring to better support the Kashmiri community.

Based on Spotland Road, KDF is an indigenous Kashmiri organisation which aims to empower the voices of underrepresented people and communities.

This year, KDF hosted the British Kashmiri Identity Campaign, which encouraged Kashmiri people to identify themselves as ‘Kashmiri’ on the 2021 census.

Whilst there were Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Chinese options available for Asian or British Asians, under the ethnic group category, there was no option for the Kashmiri diaspora, which is estimated to be the largest South Asian community in the Rochdale borough.

Rochdale councillor Shakil Ahmed has previously spoken of his disappointment at the lack of representation for the Kashmiri population.
 

Read more: Census 2021: Councillors urge people to correctly identify ethnicity so local needs can be metPublished: 15 March 2021

Sardar Aftab Khan, Chief Executive of Kashmir Development Foundation, explained why this lack of recognition of Kashmiris is a barrier.

He said: “Our campaign successfully mobilised Kashmiris to take part in the census and identify themselves as Kashmiri by ticking ‘other’ in response to Question 15.

“This census data will inform local and central government to make policies and develop community projects and initiatives.

“We want the government to make their ethnic origin recording systems diverse and racially equal, for example, so we know in which sections of the community where Covid-19 deaths are more prevalent.”

 

 

Mr Khan also pointed out that government materials aimed at the Pakistani community are often only written in Urdu, which is not accessible for Kashmiris who do not speak the language.

He added: “Policymakers assume that the Kashmiri community understands Urdu and the information they send us, when in reality, we might not.

“When you have the misidentification of Kashmiris, we cannot get justice or racial equality.

“There is a data blackout when Kashmiris go for Covid-19 tests and vaccinations, as the 'Kashmiri' option isn't there on forms.

“That is the structural inequality in the system which needs to be addressed and eliminated, so that public sector organisations, the NHS, Clinical Commissioning Groups and so on have a better picture of issues that affect our communities.”

KDF hopes that improved data monitoring will help the government target resources and provide better support for Kashmiris and other communities who also face similar barriers when filling in forms.

The Local Democracy reporting service has previously reported on how the size of Rochdale’s Kashmiri population has been massively underestimated, leaving thousands ‘unknown and unseen.’
 

Read more: Underestimate of Rochdale’s Kashmiri population has left it ‘unknown and unseen’ by council and other authoritiesPublished: 31 January 2020

Many Kashmiri individuals across Britain have endorsed the British Kashmiri Identity campaign on social media, including a 92-year-old Rochdale woman named Sarwar Jan, whose video message received 79,000 views on the campaign’s TikTok account.

Also endorsing the campaign is Oldham Labour Councillor Shoab Akhtar, who said: “I think it’s important that Kashmiris have their ethnicity identified in the Census. We miss out on a number of different services because our language [Pahari] is slightly different to Urdu.”

Councillor Akhtar also urged the Kashmiri community to 'be proud' of their heritage.

He added: “When I was growing up, we never identified ourselves as Kashmiri. We were always told to say that we were Pakistani. This campaign has brought [this issue] to the forefront again.

“I’m proud to speak Pahari and say that I am Kashmiri.”

The census - the nationwide survey of housing and the population – has been carried out every 10 years since 1801 (with the exception of 1941, when Britain was at war with Nazi Germany). It will next be carried out in 2031.

The Office for National Statistics runs the census in England and Wales and is independent from government. Your details are protected by law and information published is always anonymous.

You can find the British Kashmiri Identity Campaign here. The campaign is also available in Urdu, here.