Vijay: Watch: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay launches one-gram gold ring scheme for newborns | India News
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday rolled out the state government’s one-gram gold ring scheme for newborns in Madurai. He also held some of the newborns and presented the rings to beneficiaries during the launch programme.Under the scheme, eligible babies born in government hospitals and government primary health centres will receive a 22-carat, one-gram gold ring.The initiative, named the Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme (Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam), has an annual allocation of Rs 755.83 crore.It is aimed at celebrating motherhood, promoting maternal and child health and encouraging institutional deliveries by increasing public confidence in government healthcare facilities.
Who is eligible for the gold ring?
The scheme will cover babies born on or after June 22, 2026, to mothers who are permanent residents of Tamil Nadu and have delivered at government healthcare institutions.Mothers must be registered under the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) system and have a Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) ID. They will also have to provide an e-KYC-verified Aadhaar card along with one of the prescribed identity or residence documents.These include ration cards, voter identity cards, Labour Welfare Board identity cards, Department of Posts address cards and nativity certificates.The state government has already procured 1.28 lakh one-gram gold rings for the initial rollout. Each ring will have a unique serial number and will be packed in tamper-proof packaging.From Monday, babies born in government hospitals will receive the rings at the time of discharge, according to the state government.To clear the backlog of eligible babies born between June 22 and Monday, the government will distribute the rings through 107 hubs across Tamil Nadu.Distribution will begin at the rate of 100 babies per day at each hub. At designated centres, 25 beneficiaries will be accommodated in the morning and another 25 in the afternoon to avoid overcrowding, PTI reported.Village Health Nurses will distribute invitations informing beneficiaries of their allotted date and time. Beneficiaries have been asked to visit the designated centres only at the time mentioned in their invitations.The district administration has also made transportation arrangements for beneficiaries from their respective areas.
Scheme draws on Tamil tradition
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’.According to ANI, Tamil Nadu minister Arun Raj explained the cultural significance of the initiative saying, “A maternal uncle is someone who is among the first to rush in when a child is born, sharing in his sister’s happiness as his own. He assures her that he will always stand by her and her child, offering love, support and a sense of security.”“Today, the Tamil Nadu Government, under the leadership of our brother, Mr. Vijay, is embracing this sacred bond of the maternal uncle and, as a gesture of that affection, is set to provide a one-gram gold ring to every child born in government hospitals. When the scheme was announced and the question arose as to where it should be launched, the place chosen by our Chief Minister was Madurai. This is the sacred soil of Madurai, blessed with the compassion and grace of Mother Meenakshi,” he added.
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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 government said the scheme is intended to encourage safe institutional deliveries, strengthen maternal and child welfare and increase public trust in government healthcare services.The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation will procure the gold rings based on annual requirements, while a project and programme management unit will oversee implementation and monitoring.
