India, May 30 -- While the state school education department has already launched the 'Happy Saturday' initiative to foster holistic development of school students across Maharashtra, the department will now get retired soldiers to voluntarily participate in training schoolchildren using their discipline, leadership qualities, patriotism and commitment to social service. "This initiative is expected to make a meaningful contribution to nation-building," state school education minister Dada Bhuse had said a couple of days ago when he was in Pune.

The minister had emphasised that this initiative would allow retired soldiers to play an active role in shaping the future of students by sharing their experiences and life lessons. "Through this...