Pune, July 18 (PTI) RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said the empowerment of women is essential for the progress of any nation, and they should be freed from regressive customs and traditions.

Speaking at an event organised by non-profit organisation Udyogwardhini at Solapur in Maharashtra, Bhagwat said women are the most important part of any society.

"A man will work till his death. A woman will also work till the end, but beyond that, she inspires the generations that follow. It is under a woman's love and affection that children grow and mature," he said.

Empowering women is crucial for national development, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief further said.

"God has given an additional quality to women, enabling them to do things that men cannot. At the same time, God has given women all the qualities he has given to men, which is why they can do whatever men can do," he said.

Hence, it is foolhardy for men to claim that they will uplift women, Bhagwat remarked.

"There is no reason to have such ego. Let women do what they want. Just empower them and free them from regressive customs and traditions. When a woman uplifts herself, she uplifts entire society," he added.

He also lauded the contribution of Udyogwardhini in empowering and strengthening women. PTI SPK KRK

Women's empowerment: freeing women from regressive customs enhances societal progress and enables equal participation and leadership. Empowerment of women is essential for national progress and requires freeing women from regressive customs and traditions; men should not assume a paternalistic role of uplifting women but should enable their agency so that individual upliftment translates into broader social improvement.