SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, has called upon Sikhs living across the United States to fill out their census form. Census forms were mailed out to residences across the United States in April 2020, however, it is possible to also fill out the form online. Census forms can also be filled in via the phone.
SALDEF said that residences that do not submit the census form will have to do so before August, otherwise, Census takers will come knocking at the doors of people who have not participated in the census.
“A full census count can help protect our families, friends, and neighbors during a time of crisis like the current COVID-19 pandemic. Census data is used for critical emergency planning and response. In the case of coronavirus, they can help identify where people who are vulnerable due to advanced age live so officials can implement key prevention efforts,” SALDEF said.
SALDEF added that many of the resources people across the country are relying on in the wake of coronavirus due to illness, job loss, or ongoing need are directed by census data, including:
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- Health Care: Medicaid, Medicare, Child Health Insurance Program, hospital funding
- Workforce Assistance: unemployment insurance, aid for dislocated workers
- Food Assistance: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
- Disability Services
- Senior Services
In the past, many immigrant communities have historically been missed in the count for reasons including lack of language resources. US 2020 Census this year is providing assistance in the Punjabi language. Resources are also available through SALDEF Census website.
why is saldef not asking census to be marked as Sikh? Are they working for india government agenda.