Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1976
14. FUNCTIONS OF VIGILANCE
COMMITTEE. -
(1) The functions of each Vigilance Committee shall be,- (a) to
advise the District Magistrate or any officer authorised by him as to the
efforts made, and action taken, to ensure that the provisions of this Act or of
any rule made there under are properly implemented.
(b) to provide for the economic and
social rehabilitation of the freed bonded labourers;
(c) to co-ordinate the functions of
rural banks and co-operative societies with a view to canalising adequate credit
to the freed bonded labourer;
(d) to keep an eye on the number of
offence of which cognizance has been taken under this Act;
(e) to make a survey as to whether
there is any offence of which cognizance ought to be taken under this Act;
(f) to defend any suit instituted
against a freed bonded labourer or a member of his family or any other person
dependent on him for the recovery of the whole or part of any bonded debt or any
other debt which is claimed by such person to be bonded debt.
(2) A Vigilance Committee may
authorise one of its members to defend a suit against a freed labourer and the
member so authorised shall be deemed, for the purpose of such suit, to be the
authorised agent of the freed bonded labourer.