"The garbage problem in the city had remained ignored. The government authorities and concerned bodies were ineffective in dealing the issue, that's why we took the initiative," said Hisila Yami, a rebel who is leading the anti-litter campaign.

Around 500 rebel cadres are involved in the programmeme, with Kathmandu Metropolitan City authorities providing the Maoists with vehicles, brooms and shovels, said Yami, wife of the Maoist second-in-command Baburam Bhattarai.

Wearing a red and white sash reading "Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) Volunteer", rebel cadre Ashok collected garbage from a roadside and placed it in a basket in a busy suburb of Nepal on Wednesday morning.

"We want to create awareness among people about garbage management," he said.

"Besides, being involved in community service will improve our image as we are not the same force that we used to be during the insurgency period," said Ashok, who like many rebels goes by only one name.

The campaign will likely be extended, said Yami, the woman in charge of the project.

"Initially, we started it on Tuesday as a four-day campaign but people have asked us to clean up their respective areas so we might extend it for a couple of days," said Yami.

The rebel leader said that they were now concentrating on social activities as the political situation in the country was gradually improving.