Launched last month as Punjab’s first-ever drug and socio-economic census, the Punjab government’s ongoing survey as came into controversy as it also includes questions related to welfare schemes and public feedback on the performance of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Notably, the questions that are asked in the survey does not get linked to the census title.
The survey aims to assess the scale of substance abuse in the state and identify the most commonly used narcotics and examine the impact of addiction on employment, poverty and education.
Notably, documents related to the exercise reveal that respondents are being asked not only about drug abuse and household conditions, but also about their awareness and experience of several flagship schemes introduced by the State Government since 2022.
The detailed survey questionnaire contains nearly 120 questions, including sub-questions to be asked from every household. Of the nearly 70 mandatory basic questions, at least 40 are directly linked to the Bhagwant Mann Government’s schemes.
One of the questions asks respondents whether they noticed any improvement in canal water supply for irrigation after the Bhagwant Mann government assumed office in 2022.
Another question seeks respondents feedback on governance by asking them to mention the five best works carried out by the Bhagwant Mann-led government that they like the most.
The survey is being carried out through an AI-based mobile application that requires audio recording of respondents during the interview process. The exercise is expected to cover nearly 65 lakh households across Punjab through around 28,000 employees over a span of three months. The surveyors are being paid Rs 250 for every household covered.
A separate portion of the questionnaire focuses on schemes launched by the AAP government. Respondents are being asked whether they are aware of schemes such as Aam Aadmi Clinics, 300 units of free electricity, CM Di Yogshala and Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana, whether they have availed benefits under these initiatives and how much money they have saved through them.
A surveyor associated with the health department in Patiala said respondents are also required to provide estimated savings figures under these schemes. “We have to ask how much money they have saved through schemes such as free electricity. Until they provide a figure, the application does not allow us to proceed to the next question,” the surveyor said.
Amit Talwar, nodal officer for the drug census and socio-economic survey, said that more than two lakh respondents had already been surveyed.
It is to be noted that at the launch of the survey, the Chief Minister had said that the exercise would assist the government in framing targeted and evidence-based policies to combat drug abuse in the state.
The questionnaire also asks respondents which services they received “for the first time” under the Mann government and whether similar benefits were available during previous governments.
In some instances, enumerators have reportedly been instructed to actively promote government schemes while conducting the survey itself.
One such question reads, “Has any family member benefitted from CM Yogshala scheme to avail free-of-cost yoga trainer?” If the answer is “No”, the enumerator is instructed to explain the scheme and ask whether the respondent would be interested in learning yoga free of cost.
Teachers involved in conducting the survey say respondents routinely deny drug use within their families, making the exercise ineffective in assessing the true extent of addiction.
Apart from questions related to drug abuse, the survey also gathers detailed socio-economic information from households, including religion, caste, sub-caste, income, loans and migration patterns.
If a family member lives abroad, respondents are asked why the person migrated, when they left, whether loans were taken to send them overseas and whether those loans have been repaid.
Opposition parties have accused the AAP government of using the “drug census” to collect political feedback and voter data ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Union Minister for State Ravneet Bittu said that the drug census is an attempt to defame Punjabis and urged people not to fall into the trap. He further said such matters should be kept confidential and that the Government should focus on eradicating drugs instead of defaming Punjabis.
Bittu alleged that outside agencies are conducting surveys and people will be pressured into signing in favour of AAP, with threats that free electricity and other government benefits could be withdrawn if they do not support the party.
Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said, “This is not a Drug Census but an election-oriented exercise to know feedback of people on its own governance to test its own before 2027.”
Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also questioned the credibility of the exercise. “Will an addict ever say he takes drugs? Will a father ever say this about his son?” Warring said.
The State Government has allocated Rs 150 crore for the census and related de-addiction efforts for the 2026-27 financial year, which was announced in the 2025-26 state budget.
The survey has sparked debate over the inclusion of extensive questions related to the Bhagwant Mann government’s schemes. The netizens have also raised concerns over the effectiveness of the exercise, with field surveyors and teachers pointing out that many respondents are reluctant to openly acknowledge drug abuse within their families, potentially limiting the accuracy of the findings.
