Union Cabinet today approved direct release of wages to workers' accounts under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employee Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Official sources said, the decision in this regard was taken by the Cabinet in New Delhi this evening. <br/><br/>It would benefit all stakeholders and improve overall efficiency of implementation of the scheme. The workers would be assured of payment of wages on the second day of the pay order generation and gram panchayats empowered to take up work according to their labour budget without struggling for release of funds. <br/><br/>The decision would enable states to spend more time in planing and improving the efficiency and Centre would gain by releasing what is actually spent. It would also lead to grater transparency in movement of funds. <br/><br/>Despite implementation of electronic fund management system, delays in payment have been increasing and this has called for steps to improve the system and assured timely availability of funds as per demand.