The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has said that India should look towards evolving a swadeshi model of development -- a model based on self reliance in the global Covid-19 scenario.

RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabele addressed foreign media via a video conferencing session. He said that a detailed investigation should take place to know the origins and reasons of the novel coronavirus that has caused Covid-19, and its impact.

Speaking on the suggested model of self reliance, Hosabele said that the pandemic of Covid-19 had exposed the limits of "global capitalism and global communism as models."

The Hindustan Times quotes him saying: The world will have to search for the emergence of a future world order, a new regime. Political ideologies based on politico-economic thoughts which have ruled the world for the last century have failed in today’s world. Unbridled materialism and consumerism will have to be questioned; and I hope humanity will try to free itself from this.

He added that India's local resources, workforce and needs would be integrated into the economic activity in the indegenous model -- taking into account the ecological considerations.

He said that this should be done while believing in the concept of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one) and that countries should unite to avoid the recurrence of the pandemic.

HT quotes him saying: “We will have to be very judicious; new measures will have to be announced so that MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and agriculture can stand on their own feet; but at the same time any countries cannot close its doors to the others (sic).”

There is a need to create "new systems involving responsible individuals, organisations and countries", he added.