my $hash_add = {
                       $cat => [{
                           'name' => "$name",
                           'link_name' => "$link_name",
                           'description' => "$desc",
                           'date' => "$today_date"
                    }]
    };

    for (keys %$hash_add) {
        $xml->{policies}->[0]->{$_} = $hash_add->{$_};
    }