An emergency meeting of the ministerial-level Cantonment Management Committee Sunday evening decided to provide 3000 rupees a month to each member of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The decision came as the 24-hour Maoist ultimatum for a nationwide stir drew closer. The decisions of the ministerial committee will be presented in the meeting of the eight-party leaders Monday morning before presenting it to the cabinet for approval, it is learnt.

Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, who chairs the ministerial committee, Finance Minister Dr Ram Saran Mahat, Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hisila Yami and few other ministers attended the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence.

Official announcement regarding the committee’s decisions is yet to come.

Maoist chairman Prachanda yesterday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the government, warning of nationwide agitation if no commitment came from the government for the upkeep of PLA members.

The government has been facing tremendous pressure from the Maoist side for better facilities to PLA men and necessary infrastructure in the cantonments. Over one billion rupees has already been provided to the Maoist party for the upkeep of 31000 PLA combatants.