INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi used an Independence Day speech to call for a change in social attitudes to women today.

Mr Modi said the country had been shamed by a spate of rapes and attacks on women and called on parents to treat their sons and daughters equally.

"The law will do its job and do it strictly but, as a society, every parent also has a responsibility to teach their sons the difference between right and wrong," he said.

"When we hear reports of rapes, our heads hang in shame," Mr Modi said, attempting to placate growing anger against persistent violence against women.

A fatal gang rape on a bus in December 2012 enraged activists and led to scores of public protests.

New and tougher legislation was enacted, doubling prison terms for rapists to 20 years and criminalising voyeurism, stalking and the trafficking of women.

However, it has had little effect so far.