Bhubaneswar: Protesting block grant teachers of the state launched an indefinite strike at Lower PMG Square here on Monday.

After matriculation examination, they have threatened to boycott Plus Two examination evaluation as well. Thousands of teachers, under the banner of the School and College Teachers' and Employees' United Forum, staged demonstrations shouting slogans and showing placards to press for their demands.

Their demands include implementation of recommendation of the Seventh Pay Commission and increase of the retirement age to 62 among others.

The block grant teachers have been agitating in front of the 57 matriculation examination evaluation centres since March 20.

In another development, school and mass education minister Badri Narayan Patra reiterated that evaluation of the examination papers would not be hampered by the protest. "This is about the future of the students. Hence, evaluation will go on come what may. The protesters should understand that it is their duty to check the papers. We have already assured them that their demands would be taken care of. Still, they are not co-operating with us," said minister Patra.

Around 60, 000 teachers earlier agitated in Bhubaneswar for more than 12 days in February for fulfilment of their seven-point demands.

Their primary demand was immediate issuance of government notification regarding withdrawal of a compulsory affidavit clause to avail grant-in-aid.

They called off their strike following talks with the state government who had assured them of bringing out a notification by March 9. But the state government did not issue the promised notification.

Later, the government agreed to the clause. But the teachers are demanding fulfilment of the rest of their demands.

Forum convener Golak Nayak said: "They had assured us to take action. That is why we had called off the strike and co-operated to host the annual examinations. But, they failed to keep their assurance. So, we have decided to not take part in the evaluation process."