The Union Cabinet meeting presided over by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday approved the third phase of the SDPs in Afghanistan.

'The outlay on the third phase of the SDPs is $100 million (around Rs.500 crore),' said the Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram after the Cabinet meeting.

According to the Cabinet note the SDPs directly impact local communities and support social-economic development, provide livelihood, help conserve environmental and cultural heritage, empower women, promote child welfare and facilitate community life through creation of infrastructure in the education, health, agriculture and agro-industry, renewable energy, trade, transport and communication, recreation and community development sectors.

Local communities of Afghanistan would directly benefit from the Small Development Projects. Exact number of beneficiaries cannot be verified. This will cover all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

The Small Development Projects were earlier implemented in two phases: the first in July 2006 comprising 50 projects worth $ 11,216,179; and the second in June 2008 comprising 51 projects worth $ 8,579,537. Most of the projects in the two phases have been completed

The projects will be implemented over a period of four years through local Afghan Government bodies, community organizations, non-Governmental organizations, charitable trusts and education and vocational institutions. The expenditure on the projects will be met from the Non-Plan head of `Aid to Afghanistan’ budget of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.