The translation of essential government websites, such as the White House and other federal agencies, into Asian-American and Pacific Islander languages, such as Hindi, Gujarati, and Punjabi, has been proposed by a US Presidential Commission.
The President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans (AA), Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders has approved a set of recommendations in this regard (NHPI).
At its meeting earlier this month, the whole panel suggested that federal agencies make critical documents, digital information, and forms available on their websites in various AA and NHPI languages.
It was also suggested that public and emergency warnings be made available to people with weak English skills.
The full panel also suggested that the federal government ensure that emergency/disaster prevention, planning, response, mitigation, and recovery programmes include and reflect the lived experiences of people who speak little English.
The recommendations will now be sent to the White House, where the president will make the final decision.
Following Indian-American Ajay Jain Bhutoria’s multi-language advertising campaign for Democratic candidate and now US President Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 election, a set of recommendations has been in the works for some time.
The Biden campaign was able to make a significant influence in the community because to election campaigns in Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Telugu, and other South Asian languages.
Bhutoria, a successful entrepreneur and resident of Silicon Valley, is now a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (Commission).
During the meeting of the commission, he claimed that giving information in the audience’s native tongue will assist overcome the knowledge gap.
A proactive approach to multilingual access to federal government agency information and access will assist in meeting existing US government criteria.
“Your agency is already required to provide appropriate access for people with limited English proficiency by implementing Department of Justice guidance for Executive Order 13166 and improving Access to Services for People with Limited English Proficiency,” according to the Office of Management of Budget Policies for Federal Public Websites. Each document on a federal agency’s public website must be evaluated to see if it requires translation.
The population of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders has been rapidly growing, with the population predicted to reach 40 million by 2060.
According to the 2020 Census, there are around 25 million people who speak a foreign language at home and have a level of English proficiency that is “less than very good.” Bhutoria stated in his proposal to the commission that AAPIs had contributed to the development of a robust and vibrant America.
Individuals, families, and communities of AA and NHPI people come from a wide range of races, languages, and cultures, and include citizens of US Pacific Island territories and freely connected states.
They contribute significantly to the economy by starting firms and creating jobs that pay billions of dollars in wages and taxes, including building some of our country’s most successful and inventive businesses, according to the plan. PTI LKJ IND