Chief minister Nitish Kumar speaks at the workshop on Women in Media in Patna on Friday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Dec. 2: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today applauded the contribution of women to journalism and said their interest in the profe- ssion is a boost to women empowerment.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the eastern region workshop on “Women in media” organised today at a city hotel by South Asian Women in Media in collaboration with Oxfam India.

The chief minister said a social revolution was being witnessed and there was no gender bias in society. He also spoke on the risks involved in journalism, irrespective of gender.

Nitish said: “Every profession has its own risks but journalism has more. While journalism is not safe for even men, it is more unsafe for women.”

He added: “Electronic, and especially print, media has witnessed many elements of modernised management. Media houses have adopted a hire-and-fire method these days and the situation is more challenging under such circumstances. Journalists are highly paid but when they are fired, it becomes difficult for them to maintain their lifestyle, as their expenses also go up with rising salary.”

The chief minister said a time would come when male journalists would have to worry, as they could be counted on fingers. He also said experienced female journalists would soon also face a challenge from girls in villages who would enter the field of journalism.

On literacy rate, Nitish said: “Literacy rate has risen in the state and girls in the villages are also advancing in every sphere. Not only did the cycle yojana prove to be fruitful, but the Mukhyamantri Akshar Anchal Yojana started for illiterate women has also given way to positive changes.”

The chief minister also said as the state is changing, so is the mindset of people. He added: “During the Seva Yatra, I came to know in detail that people in Minapur block of Muzaffarpur district plant 10 semal trees whenever a girl is born. Semal wood is very costly and the trees are planted so that they come to use when the girls get married.”