Chief minister Nitish Kumar received a host of suggestions on Monday, ranging from toilets for women in government offices to minimum pay for guest faculty members and provision for dentists in primary health centres, at a special Lok Samvad (public dialogue) meant exclusively for women.

Nitish wanted to take up suggestions, questions and issues concerning and related to women for this public dialogue, said Brajesh Mehrotra, principal secretary, cabinet secretariat.

Applications with synopsis of suggestions or questions reach the special cell created under the general administration department for Lok Samvad. Depending on the department fixed for a Monday, people are selected to meet the chief minister.

On Monday, 13 women were invited to put across their diverse suggestions before Nitish, his cabinet colleagues, chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, top cop P.K. Thakur and other IAS officers.

One of them, Sunita Kumari from Nayachak, Patna, said even though the administration has increased reservation for women in government jobs, there are no common rooms with toilets in the offices, making it difficult for women to eat lunch, change clothes if and when they need to - for instance if they get drenched in the rain - or if they need to breastfeed their babies. She also requested crèches in the offices.

Nitish enquired from Women Development Corporation managing director N. Vijayalakshmi, and was told that the offices indeed have no common rooms. Vijayalakshmi also told the chief minister that she has found the toilets, including ones at the secretariat, in dire need of repairs.

"Many of the toilets do not have doors and colleagues stand guard outside for each other," Vijayalakshmi said. "There are problems of leaks and water accumulation. We are seeking information from the principal secretaries and employees so that we can arrange for common rooms in their departments. Plans for having crèches were conceptualised in 2008, but they could not take off as the number of women employees was low, rendering such a facility unviable."

Nitish instructed Vijayalakshmi to put common room facilities in place in Patna and other districts in a decentralised manner.

"We have provided 35 per cent reservation to women in all government services, including police, so there is a need to rearrange the facilities," he said. "Toilets are a must and common rooms should be made in the existing space. Ensure that the common rooms have toilets attached to them, otherwise they would be useless."

There are no dentists in primary health centres, said Dr Sushmita Tiwari from Danapur, stressing that poor oral hygiene can lead to a wide range of ailments including heart disease. As Nitish sought the facts, officials told him there are no posts for dentists at the health centres, and although Bihar Public Service Commission was requisitioned in 2015 to appoint 700 dentists, the panel is yet to do so.

Nitish ordered officials to appoint dentists through "walk-in interviews" for the time being.

He also welcomed RMS Colony (Kankerbagh) resident Richa's suggestions after she called for quality checks on research programmes.

"Plagiarism checks should be a must for research thesis," Richa said. "Anti-plagiarism software should be installed in universities to check the originality of research. Universities should also subscribe to online research journals."

Richa also advocated for guest faculty to be given a minimum of Rs 1,000 per lecture under University Grants Commission (UGC) provisions. She claimed good guest teachers do not take assignments as they are paid a paltry Rs 300 a lecture.

R.K. Mahajan, principal secretary, education, said the UGC recommendation would be implemented soon.

M. Kumari from Raja Bazar asked to promote breeding and trade of ornamental fish to generate employment opportunities for women and fishermen, save turtles and carve out a sanctuary for the marine animals.

Notre Dame Academy teacher Abha Choudhary suggested spreading awareness on water and sanitation, and Ankita from Raja Bazar wanted awareness campaigns for increased participation of women in skill development programmes.

Richa Kumari from Saharsa urged Nitish to promote Mithila painting with compulsory installations in government offices, fashion shows and departmental websites.

Nitish pointed out to her that the state already follows a tradition of gifting Mithila paintings to state guests and said the government would give them to freedom fighters from all over the country when they assemble in Patna for the Champaran Satyagraha centenary celebrations due later this month.

Rekha Jaiswal from Muzaffarpur, whose great-grandfather Ram Dayal Prasad Sah was among those who participated in the Champaran Satyagraha, offered to present a musical story on Bapu. Rekha, a folk singer, said she has composed a song on Gandhi's life.