Chandigarh: The Punjab government has announced a final opportunity for households missed during the Drug and Socio-Economic Census 2026 to get their details recorded, launching a special 10-day registration drive from October 22 to October 31.
The Rural Development and Panchayats Department has directed that the survey process will close at the end of the campaign. Families whose information was not collected during the earlier exercise can seek assistance through the toll-free helpline 1100 to complete their registration and survey.
The department has urged eligible households to use the extended window, as no new families will be added after October 31, 2026.
How Left-Out Families Can Register
The special campaign is intended to cover households that could not participate in the survey for various reasons.
Key details of the drive include:
- Campaign period: October 22–31, 2026
- Helpline: 1100 (toll-free)
- Purpose: Registration and completion of the survey for families missed during the earlier exercise
- Deadline: October 31, 2026, after which the survey will close to new registrations
Punjab Targets Around 65 Lakh Families
Punjab launched its first Drug and Socio-Economic Census on April 1, 2026, with a target of covering approximately 65 lakh families across the state.
The exercise is designed to build a household-level picture of drug-related challenges alongside the socio-economic conditions that may affect families’ access to employment, public services and welfare support.
The information being collected covers several areas, including:
- Drug abuse: Identifying families and localities affected by substance abuse.
- Employment and income: Assessing unemployment and household income levels.
- Land ownership: Recording details of landholding among families.
- Debt: Gathering information on household financial liabilities.
- Socio-economic conditions: Understanding household circumstances to support policy planning.
Census Data to Inform De-Addiction and Welfare Measures
The survey is intended to help the state government identify areas requiring greater attention and develop more targeted responses to drug abuse, including de-addiction and rehabilitation measures.
The socio-economic information is also expected to support the planning and delivery of government welfare schemes by helping officials understand household needs and identify gaps in assistance.
With the October 31 deadline approaching, the government has appealed to families missed during the earlier survey to complete the process during the special drive.
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