Tamil Nadu CM Vijay to launch one-gram gold ring scheme for newborns today

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay will launch the state government’s one-gram gold ring scheme for newborns at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on Monday, fulfilling an electoral promise.The initiative, called the Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme (Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam), is aimed at celebrating motherhood, promoting women’s health and encouraging institutional deliveries by attracting more families to government healthcare facilities.Vijay will present 22-carat, one-gram gold rings to 25 newborns during the statewide launch. The state government has allocated an annual budget of Rs 755.83 crore for the scheme.The scheme will cover eligible babies born on or after June 22, 2026, at government institutions to mothers who are permanent residents of Tamil Nadu.The state government has already procured 1.28 lakh one-gram gold rings for the initial rollout. Each ring will carry a unique serial number and will be packed in tamper-proof packaging.Mothers will have to submit proof of residence to avail the benefit. Documents accepted include ration cards, voter identity cards, Aadhaar, Labour Welfare Board identity cards, Department of Posts address cards and nativity certificates.Vijay had announced the scheme ahead of the April 23 Assembly election as a symbolic gift to newborns, drawing on the Tamil tradition of ‘Thaimaaman Seer’. The scheme has retrospective effect from June 22, Vijay’s birthday.A government order issued on June 23 described the initiative as a token celebrating the birth of a child, motherhood and the cultural tradition of ‘Thaimaaman’.Tamil Nadu records around 7.8 lakh deliveries annually, with institutional deliveries accounting for 99.9% of births, according to NFHS-6.Government health facilities account for nearly 4.2 lakh deliveries, or around 53% of the total.According to the state government, the average out-of-pocket expenditure for a delivery at a government hospital is Rs 1,364, compared with Rs 63,473 at a private hospital.The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation will procure the gold rings and supply them based on annual requirements. A project and programme management unit will oversee the scheme’s implementation and monitoring.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.