Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will launch his government's flagship gold ring scheme for newborns on September 28, under which eligible babies born in government hospitals across the state will receive a one-gram gold ring.
The ‘Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam’, a major election promise of Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is designed around the Tamil tradition of ‘Thaai Maaman Seer’, in which the maternal uncle presents gifts and blessings to a newborn. Under the welfare programme, the state government will symbolically take on the role of the maternal uncle and present the ring to babies born in its healthcare institutions.
Launch after postponement
The scheme was originally scheduled to be formally launched on September 15, coinciding with the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C N Annadurai. The rollout was subsequently postponed because of Vijay's visit to the United Kingdom.
The government has now fixed September 28 for the formal launch. Vijay returned to Chennai this week after completing his first foreign visit as Chief Minister.
Despite the delayed formal launch, the scheme will have retrospective effect. Babies born in eligible government health institutions from June 22, Vijay's birthday, will be covered under the programme.
The government has earmarked ₹755.83 crore annually for the initiative, making it one of the prominent welfare measures unveiled by the TVK administration after coming to power earlier this year.
Over four lakh rings
The state has sanctioned the procurement of 4,41,667 one-gram gold rings for distribution to newborns up to March 2027. The rings will be made of 22-carat gold and carry the required hallmark certification.
For the initial phase, purchase orders for 1,28,499 rings were issued to two jewellery companies following the tender process. The government has maintained that there will be no compromise on the purity and quality of the gold supplied to beneficiaries.
The Health Department has also drawn up a distribution and storage mechanism for the rings, with designated secure storage points across the state from where supplies will be sent to government hospitals according to the number of births.
Who will benefit
The scheme primarily covers babies delivered in government hospitals and other eligible state-run health facilities. Guidelines have also expanded the benefit to babies abandoned at government facilities under the state's cradle baby programme, with the district child protection officer receiving the ring on their behalf.
However, stillborn babies, intrauterine deaths and babies delivered in private hospitals and subsequently admitted to government facilities will not qualify for the benefit. Babies who are born in government institutions and later die after admission to special newborn care units will remain eligible.
Apart from its cultural symbolism, the government has projected the programme as an incentive for families to choose public healthcare institutions for childbirth. Health authorities have said the initiative is also intended to reinforce confidence in safe and hygienic delivery services available at government hospitals.
Key TVK promise
The gold ring programme was among the prominent promises made by TVK before the Assembly election and was subsequently incorporated into the government's ‘Vetri Thamizhagam’ vision framework.
By institutionalising the gifting of gold rings to newborns as a statewide welfare programme, the Vijay government has turned what has traditionally been a symbolic gesture associated with political leaders and special occasions into a recurring state-funded benefit.