At a seminar on 'Stree-Shakti', or women empowerment, at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication here, Kumarmangalam said there was a need to focus not only on economic but also on social development of women.
"We cannot progress without giving due respect to women. Today's struggle for women is not for equality but for respect and choice," she said.
"I am giving a warning call, the status of women in today's society is not same as that of our glorious past where women like Rani Lakshmibai, Sita, Kunti and Draupadi were empowered and respected," Kumarmangalam, a BJP leader, said.
Underlining that for women empowerment, there was a need for a change in the mindset of both men and women, Kumarmangalam said, "The biggest obstacle in women empowerment is the mindset and there is a need to involve men in the conversation of empowering women."
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