MUMBAI, March 11 -- In honour of International Women's Day on March 8, deputy CM Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday announced a scheme called 'Come Early Go Early' for female government employees in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The newly minted minister, while participating in the Women's Day discussion on Tuesday, proclaimed that building a society that provided women with proper respect, opportunities, and safety was vital. The GR for the scheme was issued by the general administration department. Speaking in the legislative council, Sunetra, while mentioning that her late husband Ajit Pawar had always worked for women's empowerment, became overwhelmed with emotion and shed tears. Ajit was killed in an air crash at Baramati on January 28. As the name suggests, the Come Early Go early scheme will allow female government employees to arrive in office between 9.15 am and 9.45 am if they so wish and leave the office earlier by the same number of minutes. Sunetra said this decision would reduce the inconvenience women face during peak-hour crowding. Thanking members who participated in the Women's Day discussion, she remarked that several constructive suggestions were made regarding women's empowerment, which the government would consider and take appropriate steps. Speaking about women's safety, the deputy CM said that under the 'Operation Muskan' campaign to trace missing children, 14 drives were conducted between July 2015 and February 2026, leading to the tracing of 42,594 children across the state. Additionally, under 'Operation Shodh', 5,066 women and 2,771 children have been traced. Sunetra added that Missing Persons Cells were operational in all districts of the state, while 51 'Bharosa Cells' had been set up to address issues related to women. Sunetra said that the use of modern technology was being expanded to enhance women's safety, and mechanisms had been established at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Churchgate and Borivali railway stations to help prevent crimes. Highlighting the Maharashtra government's initiatives for women's economic empowerment, Sunetra mentioned several schemes. She, however, emphasised that women's empowerment was not only about economic independence but also about the equally vital social, cultural and psychological empowerment. She said that the state government had approved six months' maternity leave for women government employees. "After maternity leave, women employees can also avail of half-pay leave for up to one year without a medical certificate," she said....