A total of 416 individuals were arrested during the third phase of the crackdown on child marriage in Assam, as stated by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday.

This phase of the operation commenced on the night of December 21-22. The police have filed 335 cases, and those arrested are set to be presented in court on Sunday.

“Assam continues its fight against child marriage. In Phase 3 operations launched on the night of Dec 21-22, 416 arrests were made and 335 cases registered. The arrested individuals will be produced in court today. We will continue to take bold steps to end this social evil,” the chief minister stated on X.

The state government previously initiated a campaign against child marriage in two phases in February and October 2023. During the first phase in February, 3,483 arrests were made along with 4,515 cases registered, while the second phase in October saw 915 arrests and 710 cases filed.

In October, Sarma announced that his government is committed to eradicating child marriage in Assam by 2026. This declaration coincided with the disbursement of the first installment under the Mukha Mantri Nijut Moina scheme, which provides girls with fixed monthly payments to support their pursuit of higher education, contingent upon their remaining unmarried until they complete their degrees.

The scheme, with a total projected budget of Rs 1,500 crore, aims to benefit 10 lakh female students by transferring financial support to their accounts. The first installment, designated for 1.6 lakh identified students, was issued in alignment with the Navratri festival, with payments scheduled to be credited on the 11th of each month starting from November.

Chief Minister Sarma outlined clear guidelines for beneficiaries, stating that they must regularly attend classes, achieve satisfactory academic performance, and adhere to discipline. Importantly, the scheme excludes the daughters of Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Members of the Legislative Assembly, and it mandates that beneficiaries must not marry before completing their graduation.

He further noted that the government’s initiative against child marriage has contributed to notable improvements in maternal and infant mortality rates in the state. The Nijut Moina scheme seeks to bolster efforts against child marriage by alleviating the financial strain on the families of girls aspiring for higher education.

Under this scheme, the monthly stipend varies based on educational level, with girls in Class XII receiving Rs 1,000, those in their first year of graduation receiving Rs 1,250, and postgraduate students receiving RS 2,500, all for a duration of ten months. However, there are no restrictions on marriage for girls enrolled in postgraduate programs.

A recent ruling by a U.S. court has deemed Israel’s NSO Group accountable for its Pegasus spyware, inciting strong criticism from Congress leader Randeep Surjewala. Surjewala emphasised that the court’s decision bolsters allegations that 300 WhatsApp numbers in India were compromised.

In this case, a U.S. judge favored Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp, concluding that NSO Group had exploited a vulnerability in the messaging service to deploy spyware for unauthorized surveillance.

Surjewala took to social media platform X to assert, “The Pegasus Spyware case verdict proves how 300 WhatsApp numbers of Indians were targeted in the illegal spyware racket.”

He raised several questions directed at the Indian government, including inquiries about the identities of the 300 targeted individuals, specifically asking, “Who are the two Union Ministers? Who are the three Opposition leaders? Who is the Constitutional Authority? Who are the journalists? Who are the business persons?” He probed further, questioning, “What information was retrieved by the BJP government and agencies? How was it used – misused and to what consequence? Will appropriate criminal cases be now lodged against political executives/officers in the present government and the company owning NSO?”

Surjewala also posed whether the Supreme Court would take into account the U.S. court’s judgment in the Meta v. NSO case. He queried if the Supreme Court would make public the report from the Committee of Technical Experts on Pegasus Spyware, submitted in 2021-22, and whether it would investigate further given the ruling affirming that 1,400 WhatsApp numbers, including 300 from India, were targeted.

He suggested that Meta should be responsible for releasing the names of the 300 individuals, citing their significant subscriber base in India and a corresponding ‘duty of care & disclosure’ to its clients.

U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland ruled in favor of WhatsApp’s motion, finding NSO Group liable for hacking and breach of contract. The case will now advance solely to determine the damages owed. Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp, described the ruling as a “victory for privacy,” highlighting that they invested five years in their case because they believe spyware companies cannot evade accountability for their wrongful actions.

WhatsApp originally filed the lawsuit against NSO in 2019, seeking both an injunction and damages for unauthorized access to its servers to install Pegasus spyware on victims’ devices six months prior to the lawsuit. The lawsuit asserted that 1,400 individuals, including dissidents, journalists, and human rights advocates, were monitored due to the breach. NSO maintained that Pegasus was utilized by law enforcement and intelligence agencies for crime prevention and national security, specifically targeting terrorists, paedophiles, and criminals.

NSO had previously appealed a 2020 ruling that denied it “conduct-based immunity,” a legal provision designed to protect foreign officials acting in their official capacity. In 2021, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the initial ruling, determining that NSO’s involvement in licensing and providing technical support for Pegasus did not grant it immunity under the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The U.S. Supreme Court subsequently declined to hear NSO’s appeal, allowing the lawsuit to proceed.

Arvind Kejriwal, the National Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Chief Minister of Delhi, on Sunday announced that registrations for two new welfare schemes—Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana—will begin on December 23.

During a press conference with current Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Kejriwal detailed the benefits of these initiatives and the door-to-door registration effort that AAP volunteers will execute to maximize participation.

The Mahila Samman Yojana provides a monthly financial assistance of RS 2,100 to every woman in Delhi. This scheme is designed to help women manage household expenses and pursue higher education.

Kejriwal emphasised the significance of supporting women, stating, “We recognize the hard work of mothers and sisters who balance household responsibilities with jobs. This Rs 2,100 will aid daughters in completing their college education and enable housewives to cope with rising costs or fulfill personal desires, like purchasing a saree or suit.”

Kejriwal announced that, due to high interest in the program, registration would start the following day. He urged potential participants to avoid long lines, assuring them that AAP teams would come directly to their homes to carry out the registration and provide a registration card for safekeeping.

The Sanjeevani Yojana is another initiative aimed at offering free healthcare for senior citizens aged 60 and above, covering all medical expenses in both government and private hospitals, regardless of income.

“The middle class, which plays a crucial role in our country’s growth through tax contributions, often feels overlooked in retirement. Healthcare costs in old age are a major concern for many. I want to reassure senior citizens that the AAP government will handle all your medical expenses,” Kejriwal declared.

Registrations for both schemes will launch simultaneously, with AAP teams ensuring that eligible voters in Delhi can enroll easily. Kejriwal urged participants to have their voter IDs ready and made a pointed remark about the opposition, alleging they cancel voter IDs to strip people of their welfare entitlements.

“Make sure your voter ID is active. If it has been canceled, let us know immediately, and we will arrange for its reinstatement,” he stated.

Kejriwal, together with Atishi and Manish Sisodia, announced plans to personally visit several neighborhoods to kick off the registration process.

“This is a major stride towards empowering women and ensuring access to healthcare for the elderly. Tomorrow, the registration drive will commence vigorously throughout Delhi,” he said.