Digital Media’s Growing Impact and Challenges in Bihar Highlighted at ‘Web Media Summit 2023’

Patna: Bihar’s Water Resources and Information and Public Relations Minister, Sanjay Kumar Jha, underlined the transformative power of digital technology in shaping the media landscape, providing urban and rural communities alike with unprecedented access to information.

Speaking at the ‘Web Media Summit 2023’ in Patna on Saturday, organized by the Web Journalists Association of India, Minister Jha pledged that the state government would seriously consider the reasonable demands of digital media journalists.

Minister Jha highlighted a recent survey revealing that more than half of India’s internet users now turn to online sources such as news apps, websites, social media, and YouTube to access news. “Of note, 37% of these online news consumers reside in urban areas, while the remaining 63% hail from rural India,” he said.

He also emphasized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s unwavering commitment to media freedom and support for the welfare of journalists. “The Chief Minister has introduced a new advertising policy tailored for web media and initiated various programs, including pensions and health insurance, to benefit senior journalists across the state,” Jha said.

The minister encouraged digital media journalists to spotlight the achievements of the Bihar government, particularly in areas such as women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, and the tangible improvements experienced by Bihar’s residents. These stories, Minister Jha noted, not only serve as inspiring examples for the nation but also resonate on a global scale.

Minister Jha expressed concerns about the proliferation of digital news and the associated risks, including the rapid dissemination of misleading information driven by vested or commercial interests. He called upon senior journalists to play a crucial role in ensuring accurate information dissemination by conducting fact-based investigations and promoting awareness to counter the spread of misinformation.

In addition, the minister highlighted a recent warning from the United Nations, signaling that large regions of India could face critical groundwater depletion by 2025. He commended Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for launching the visionary “Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali” campaign, aimed at safeguarding Bihar’s future generations from the perils of climate change and enhancing environmental sustainability. “This groundbreaking initiative kicked off with a joint legislative session and the formation of the largest human chain to raise public awareness about climate change,” he said.

Minister Jha shared details of the “Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali” campaign, particularly the implementation of the innovative Ganga water supply scheme by Bihar’s Water Resources Department. “This scheme collects surplus water from the Ganga River during the rainy season, preserving and treating it in reservoirs to provide clean drinking water to homes in Bodhgaya and Rajgir year-round. Similar efforts are underway in Nawada city, effectively reducing groundwater dependence for drinking water in these areas. This achievement earned the campaign the National Award for Better Management of Water Resources,” the minister said.