The national policy for women empowerment was formulated in 2001 as a blueprint for the future, with the goals of bringing about the advancement, development and empowerment of women. The policy laid down detail prescription to address discrimination against women , strengthening existing institutions which includes the legal system, provide better access to health care and other services, equal opportunities for women’s participation in decision making and mainstreaming gender concerns in the development process, to name a few. The policies programs of the government are all directed towards achieving inclusive growth with special focus on women in line with the objective of the national policy for empowerment of women.

The swadhar scheme was launched by the ministry of women and child development during the year 2001-02 as a scheme for providing holistic and integrated service to women in difficult circumstances. Such as destitute, widow, women survivors of natural disaster, runaway from brothels, mentally challenged women etc.

The scheme was launched in the year 1969 to provide temporary accommodation, maintenance and rehabilitation services through voluntary organization to women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord of crime. The shelter is provided for six months to three years.

The scheme introduced in the year 2010 on a pilot basis in 200 districts across the country. The scheme focuses on all out of school adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years under all ICDS projects in selected districts. It also covers school going girls in the same age group.

Gender budgeting is a powerful tool for achieving gender mainstreaming so as to ensure the benefits of development reach women as much as men. To institutionalize gender budgeting in India, the setting up of gender budgeting cell in all ministries was mandated by the Ministry of Finance in 2005.