Vigilance Committees have been in existence since the inception of the rationing system. The Central Government has been requesting the State Governments from time to time to activate PDS Vigilance Committees and reconstitute them, if not done so, by associating members from amongst the card holders and consumer activists as well as Members of Parliament.

In the Model Citizens’ Charter, issued in November, 1997, constitution of Vigilance Committees by the State Governments at the level of Panchayat/Ward, Taluk, District and State/UT has been emphasised. In the guidelines issued in June, 1999 for the involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the implementation of TPDS, it is mentioned that the Gram Panchayat/Gram Sabha should be encouraged to form FPS committees. The main functions of Vigilance Committee are to ensure smooth functioning of PDS and redressal of problems related with it.

Vigilance Committees are at present functioning in most of the States at the following levels.

• FPS level
• Block/Mandal/Taluk level
• District level
• State level