The National Policy on Empowerment of Women adopted in 2001 states that " All forms of violence against women, physical and mental, whether at domestic or societal levels, including those arising from customs, traditions or accepted practices shall be dealt with effectively with a view to eliminate its incidence. Institutions and mechanisms/schemes for assistance will be created and strengthened for prevention of such violence, including sexual harassment at work place and customs like dowry; for the rehabilitation of the victims of violence and for taking effective action against the perpetrators of such violence. A special emphasis will also be laid on programmes and measures to deal with trafficking in women and girls."

Under the Operational Strategies, the Policy provides:

a) Strict enforcement of relevant legal provisions and speedy redressal of grievances with special focus on violence and gender related atrocities;

b) Measures to prevent and punish sexual harassment at work place and protection of women workers in the organised/unorganized sector

c) Crime against women - their incidence, prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution to be reviewed regularly at all Crime Review fora at the Central, State and District levels.

d) Women's Cells in Police Stations, Women Police Stations, Family Courts, Mahila Courts, Family Counseling Centres, Legal Aid and Nayaya Panchayats to be strengthened and expanded to eliminate VAW and atrocities against women

The Policy also provides that "Women's Cells in Police Stations, Women Police Stations, Family Courts, Mahila Courts, Counseling Centers, Legal Aid Centers and Nyaya Panchayats will be strengthened and expanded to eliminate violence and atrocities against women" (para 13.3 (d)).