The Maharashtra government has introduced a new workplace initiative called the “Come Early, Go Early” scheme for women employees working in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The policy is aimed at helping women avoid rush-hour congestion in Mumbai’s suburban trains, one of the busiest commuter networks in the world.

The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar during a discussion in the Maharashtra Legislative Council held around the occasion of International Women’s Day.

The government said the move reflects its commitment to improving working conditions and ensuring safety and convenience for women employees.

What Is the ‘Come Early, Go Early’ Scheme?

Under the new policy, women employees working in government offices within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will be allowed flexible reporting and departure times.

The scheme permits women employees to arrive earlier than the usual office timing and leave earlier by the same duration.

This flexibility is expected to help them avoid peak-hour crowds in suburban train networks, which are often extremely congested during morning and evening rush hours.

The scheme will apply to women officers and employees of the Maharashtra state government working within the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and surrounding districts included in the MMR.

Flexible Office Timing Details

According to the government, the scheme allows women employees to report to their offices between 9:15 am and 9:45 am.

Based on their reporting time, they will be allowed to leave earlier in the evening by the same duration, subject to a maximum adjustment of 30 minutes.

For example:

• If an employee reports 15 minutes early, she can leave 15 minutes earlier

• If she reports 30 minutes early, she can leave 30 minutes earlier

This flexibility is expected to significantly reduce commuting stress and travel difficulties faced by women employees.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said the policy will provide major relief to women who struggle with overcrowded transport during peak travel hours.

Aim: Reduce Rush-Hour Travel Stress

Mumbai’s suburban train system carries millions of commuters every day, with peak hours witnessing extremely crowded conditions.

Women employees often face:

• Heavy overcrowding in trains

• Long travel times

• Safety concerns during rush hours

The new scheme aims to spread out commuting hours slightly, allowing women employees to travel when trains are relatively less crowded.

This measure is part of broader efforts to make workplaces more supportive and accessible for women.

Conditions for Using the Scheme

While offering flexibility, the government has clarified that official work should not be affected.

Women employees availing the scheme must ensure that their duties and responsibilities are completed without disruption.

In cases involving important tasks such as:

• Legislative work

• Court-related matters

• Urgent administrative responsibilities

employees may be required to stay beyond flexible hours depending on administrative needs.

The policy therefore balances employee convenience with operational efficiency.

Discussion on Women’s Empowerment

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar made the announcement while responding to a special discussion in the Legislative Council on women’s empowerment.

She said the Maharashtra government is committed to building a society where women receive:

• Respect

• Equal opportunities

• Safety and security

Pawar also thanked members of the council for their suggestions and said the government would consider proposals aimed at improving women’s welfare.

Women’s Safety Initiatives

During the discussion, Pawar highlighted several government initiatives focused on women’s safety and protection.

One of the key programmes mentioned was Operation Muskaan, which focuses on locating missing children.

Between July 2015 and February 2026, the campaign conducted 14 operations, leading to the recovery of 42,594 children across Maharashtra.

Another initiative, Operation Shodh, helped locate:

• 5,066 women

• 2,771 children

The government has also established “Missing Cells” in every district and set up 51 Bharosa Cells to address issues faced by women.

Economic Empowerment Schemes for Women

The Deputy Chief Minister also spoke about various programmes aimed at strengthening women’s economic independence.

Key initiatives include:

• Ladki Bahin scheme

• Namo Mahila Sakshamikaran programme

• Lek Ladki initiative

• Annapurna scheme

• Lakhpati Didi programme

These schemes aim to support women entrepreneurs, self-help groups and financial independence initiatives.

The government has also launched platforms such as Umed Mall, Umed Mart and Mahalakshmi Saras to help women’s self-help groups sell their products.

These products are now also available through online platforms, expanding their market reach.

Support for Anganwadi Workers

The state government is also considering improvements in honorarium and infrastructure for anganwadi workers and helpers.

Pawar said that drinking water facilities have already been provided to 17,254 anganwadi centres across the state.

These efforts are part of broader initiatives to improve working conditions for grassroots women workers involved in childcare and nutrition programmes.

Maternity Leave Benefits

The Maharashtra government has also introduced supportive policies for working mothers.

State government employees are currently entitled to:

• 180 days of maternity leave

• Up to one year of half-pay leave after maternity leave without requiring a medical certificate

These provisions are intended to help women balance professional responsibilities with childcare and family needs.

Implementation of Women’s Policy

The state’s Fourth Women’s Policy has also been implemented to strengthen institutional support for women.

A high-level committee has been set up to ensure the effective implementation of the policy.

Additionally, the Adishakti Abhiyan programme is being implemented to improve conditions for rural women.

The initiative focuses on:

• Preventing child marriage

• Creating atrocity-free villages

• Reducing school dropout rates among girls

• Improving safety and dignity for rural women

Conclusion

The “Come Early, Go Early” scheme introduced by the Maharashtra government marks an important step toward making workplaces more flexible and supportive for women employees.

By allowing adjusted office timings for women working in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the government hopes to reduce commuting stress and improve work-life balance.

Alongside this initiative, Maharashtra continues to implement several programmes focused on women’s safety, empowerment and economic independence, highlighting the state’s broader commitment to gender-inclusive development.

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