New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS): The Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESI) is expanding its reach and now has presence in over 461 districts providing benefit to around 10 per cent of the countrys population, Union Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said here on Friday.

Addressing the 172nd meeting of the ESI Corporation, Gangwar announced some of the key decisions taken at the meeting including setting up a 50-bed hospital in Rajasthan's Alwar and 100-bed hospital at Bihar's Bihta.

The ESI Corporation had earlier approved in-principal for upgradation of around one-third of ESI dispensaries into six-bed medical facilities "in order to strengthen the primary healthcare services and decongest hospitals". This upgradation of ESI dispensaries will be done in phased manner, the Minister said.

The Corporation will also be utilising the services of graduate and post-graduate pass-outs from ESI medical colleges in its hospitals and dispensaries.