Bhubaneswar, Aug. 20: Teachers of block grant schools from across the state today demonstrated in front of the MLAs' quarters, demanding implementation of the grant-in-aid order of 1994 to the schools.

More than 40,000 teachers from around 4,000 schools have been agitating since August 10, demanding government aid to the block grant schools. Their protest has affected classes of about one lakh students. Before the Assembly session started today, the teachers went to the MLAs' residences to draw their attention to their list of grievances.

Later, the school and mass education department said it would discuss the issue with the teachers' representatives.

"Agitation and protests will not solve anything. We have asked the representatives of the groups to come and discuss with us, so that a proper solution to this problem can be found depending on the resources available with the state government," said school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra.

Around 22,000 teachers, under the banner of the Odisha Vidyalaya Sikshak Mahasangh, Odisha School Teachers' Association, School Workers' Association, Odisha Gana Shikshak Mahasangh and the Gana Sikhyak Mahasangh have joined the agitators.

Yesterday, the demonstrators staged a protest in front of the Assembly and had a face-off with police.

"The protest will continue till the government gives in to our demands, and we will join the schools only after the grant-in-aid rules of 1994 are implemented," said Odisha Vidyalaya Sikshak Mahasangh convener Prakash Chandra Mohanty.

The teachers have been demanding the grant-in-aid and want all eligible high schools under the government fold. This will make them eligible for the benefits as laid down in the Service Condition Rule of 1974.

The Block Grant Secondary School Teachers and Employees' Association have also been demanding the benefits of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhijan for the students of these schools. They want the authorities to take care of the school set-up. They have also demanded uniformity in the Class IV employees' salaries and filling up of the 1,576 vacancies under various categories.

The group has also been demanding regularisation of teachers, who have served more than six years.

BJD MLA Balabhadra Majhi said: "The teachers from my constituency today staged a protest in front of my residence and tried to stop me from going to the Assembly."