With scams in the Public Distribution System (PDS) becoming a regular affair, the Centre is putting together a system of checks at the local level.The ministry of food and civil supplies, public distribution and consumer affairs has asked the states to strenghthen the vigilance committees which keep a watch on the system and to give more powers to similar committees at the panchayat level.Only some states have vigilance committees, and that too without clear-cut responsibilities. Now, sources said, the ministry has asked all the states to set up the committees and to give them more powers, besides spelling out their responsibilities clearly.The Model citizen’s Charter (para 17) talks about setting up of vigilance committees at the panchayat, block and state levels. These committees should have representatives of the state governments, social organisations, and consumer and local bodies.Earlier, the complaints used to go to the state government or the Food Corporation of India. Now, the vigilance committees will have the responsibility of ensuring successful distribution of foodgrains along with more transparency. They will have more powers to inquire complaints and solve them at their level.Sources said the Centre has asked the state governments to train the members of the vigilance committees. It has also asked the states to set up a mechanism for grievance redressal so that any glitches in the system can be sorted out at the local level.The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution too had sought setting up of vigilance commitees at all levels.
