An organization dedicated to Sikh Americans announced Tuesday that Sikhs will get their own designation on the U.S. Census for the first time, reports Latestly.
The U.S. Census Bureau confirmed the announcement from the Sikh Society of San Diego which described the decision as a milestone the community has called for for 20 years.
“It’s clear that a separate code is needed to ensure an accurate count of Sikhs in the United States, recognizing a unique identity,” US Census Deputy Director Ron Jarmin told Latestly. “Working with United Sikhs, we understand how this change affects the national Sikh community, leading us to add this code for the 2020 Census,” said Shagufta Ahmed with the Census Bureau and Office of Management Budget.
There are currently 1 million Sikhs living in the United States. The group United Sikhs described their community as one with their own unique appearance, culture, language, food and history, according to the India Post.
Sikhism is a religion which originated in South Asia in the 19th century. The largest population of Sikhs in the U.S. are on the East and West Coasts.
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