Payment delays in MGNREGA will be made punishable: Munde

Any delay in the payment of wages under the MGNREGA will be made punishable, Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde said here Thursday.

A provision will be added to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, making delays in payment of wages to rural job seekers punishable, he told reporters.

The minister said zero tolerance to corruption and timely payment of wages are the twin mantras he will work on in the coming days.

Apart from strictly monitoring the scheme, there will be monthly assessment reports to ensure transparent implementation of the rural job act.

He said the scheme will be utilized for the all round development of villages.

On the issue of Indira Aawas Yojana, Munde said that due to migration of labourers, there was a need for adding new categories to the list of beneficiaries.

Also, he denied that the land acquisition act is against industrialization, and said shortcomings will be rectified for quick execution of projects.