Bhubaneswar: The state government will soon introduce yoga and pranayam sessions for school students in Odisha.

The School and Mass Education (S&ME) department has sent a communiqué in this regard to the Director of Elementary Education, Director of Higher Secondary Education, Secretary of Council of Higher Secondary Education, Director of Sports and Youth Services and all District Education Officers (DEOs) among others recently.

As per the communiqué, the physical education teachers (PETs) will conduct yoga/pranayam/ physical exercise for students for 10 minutes soon after the prayer class in schools.

The initiative will activate the body and mind of the students to concentrate on studies, said the S&ME Department.

The department has asked schools to devote extra time after classes for promoting sports activities among students.

Besides, the schools have been told to nurture at least one team in any of the games or sports adopted by the OSSSA.

Moreover, the government will identify sports talents at school level, block level, district level and state level for participation in national level competitions.

The sports teams of Odisha, selected for different national games, will be nurtured in special camps at Kalinga Stadium in the capital city here, said the state government.