KATHMANDU: The meeting of the Steering Committee for the discharging and rehabilitation of disqualified Maoist combatants held here today decided to begin the discharge process from Sindhuli on January 7 . Earlier, the committee had decided to begin the process from December 27.

Chandra Prasad Khanal 'Baldev', spokesperson, People's Liberation Army, said that process could not begin as per the earlier plan since the combatants were engaged in sports this week.

According to Niranjan Uprety, under-secretary at the Peace Ministry, the meeting has decided to begin the discharge after gathering all 371 combatants from three satellite camps. "They will set off for home within a month," he said adding that the government with the help of donor agencies has announced an educational package for them. They could apply for the package as an incentive for any sorts of training or education, Uprety said.