law: 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.