Bhubaneswar: Block-grant teachers have finally put their strike on hold for two months after talks with the state government on Thursday.

The teachers, under the banner of All-Odisha School-College Teachers and Employees United Forum, have been agitating since March 19.

The protesters had a meeting with chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Thursday, following which they called off their strike till July 15 for the state government to fulfil their demands.

"They put forth their charter of demands. We have assured them to consider their demands and requested them to call off the agitation. They have finally agreed to it," the chief secretary said after the meeting. The agitating teachers have been demanding issuance of a notification regarding withdrawal of a compulsory affidavit clause to avail grant-in-aid.

A group of 10 teachers representing the forum discussed their demands with Padhi at the secretariat.

Forum convener Pabitra Mahala confirmed that the teachers would take part in the evaluation process.

"While the government had sought a duration of three months to fulfil their demands, we have settled for two months. We will try our best to complete the evaluation process on time," he said.

They have also demanded of the government to provide them with the Seventh Pay Commission-recommended salary. They also urged the government to increase the retirement age of teachers and other staff working in aided, new aided schools and colleges from 60 to 62 years.

"If the state government does not take any action within two months, we will return to the streets," he said.

"We are really happy that the teachers and government have finally come to some consensus. We hope that everything concludes on time," said Archana Purohit, a parent.