<span style="color: #222222;">Government has decided to extend the ESI Act to the entire country by 2022.<br />'' <br />'' Replying to supplementaries in Lok Sabha, Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said out of the total 722 districts, the ESI scheme has been extended to 541 districts.<br />'' <br />'' He said under the ESIC 2.0 programme, ESI scheme was extended in newly implemented areas. The Minister informed the House that around 3 crores 60 lakh employees across the country are likely to be benefited by the measure.<br />'' <br />'' On the issue of reduction of ESI contribution from 6.5 to 4 per cent from July this year, the Minister said this step has reduced the burden on the employees and employers and improved the coverage as well as compliance of the ESI scheme.<br />'' <br />'' He added that the government's effort has also contributed to ease of doing business. </span><br />