Biswanath Chariali, Aug 7: The Assam State Primary Teachers' Association has announced an indefinite sit-in protest in Guwahati from August 12, demanding a resolution to issues concerning the salary disbursement mechanism for Special Recruitment Drive (SRD) teachers who were regularised after serving under Samagra Shiksha. The announcement came after SRD teachers staged a one-hour protest in Biswanath on Friday, expressing strong resentment over what they alleged was the government's move to shift their salary disbursement system from the FinAssam platform to the SNA-SPARSH module. A protesting teacher said the agitation was not centred on delayed salary payments but on concerns over the mode of payment and the future status of the teachers. "Since the discussion with Education Minister Ranoj Pegu did not yield satisfactory results in our favour, the Assam State Primary Teachers' Association has announced protests. The minister claimed there are no issues regarding salary payments and that we may receive our salaries even tomorrow. However, today's protest is not about salary delays," the teacher said. "What we are demanding is regular and uninterrupted salary disbursement and not payments through the SNA portal. We suspect there is a plan to push us back into a contractual framework. We resigned from our previous jobs and joined the Directorate of Elementary Education, accepting a salary loss of around Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 per month for the sake of our families' future security," the teacher added.The protesting teachers also submitted memoranda addressed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Governor, the Union Education Minister and Samagra Shiksha, Government of India."Since last month, we have been carrying the stress and burden of census-related duties. Nearly 90 per cent of teachers are under loan debt. We believe this issue can only be resolved through the intervention of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma," the teacher said. The association warned that if the government does not withdraw the order at the earliest, around 300 teachers will begin an indefinite sit-in protest in Guwahati from August 12. The protest came a day after Education Minister Ranoj Pegu sought to allay concerns over delayed salary payments and the service status of SRD teachers following a meeting with the SRD Teachers' Welfare Forum and the Assam State Primary Teachers' Association. "Although there has been a slight delay this month, they will receive their salaries as usual within the next couple of days. The delay has occurred due to certain financial reforms currently being carried out in the treasury system," the minister shared through micro blogging website on Thursday. Pegu also dismissed concerns about any change in the teachers' status as regular government employees. "Earlier, they received their salaries through their respective district treasuries. From this month onward, however, their salaries will be credited through the Dispur Treasury. There is no change in the status of these employees as regular staff, nor is there any change in the budget head from which their salaries have been drawn," he said. The minister further asserted that the teachers would continue to receive all benefits available to regular government employees and remain within the existing financial management framework. "They have completed their service under Samagra Shiksha and have joined as regular employees of the Assam Government. They will continue to receive all service benefits and entitlements available to regular employees. There is no reason for any concern in this regard," Pegu said. He added that the teachers would continue to receive services through FinAssam and that salary bills, pay slips and related processes would continue to be handled through the platform, with salaries being disbursed through the treasury system.