CHENNAI, Sept 27: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to launch the Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, a welfare scheme under which eligible newborns delivered at government hospitals will receive a one-gram gold ring.
Vijay is scheduled to launch the scheme on Monday at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, where he will present gold rings to 25 newborns. He is also expected to visit the maternity ward and personally distribute rings to infants born on the day.
Under the scheme, each eligible newborn will receive a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring. The government has allocated an annual budget of Rs 755.83 crore, while around 1.28 lakh rings have been prepared for the first phase.
The rings will carry unique serial numbers and will be distributed in tamper-proof packaging to ensure transparency and proper tracking.
To qualify, the newborn’s mother must be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu. Beneficiaries must also be registered under the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) system and have a Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) ID.
The gold rings will be handed over to eligible beneficiaries at the time of discharge from government hospitals.
The scheme will be implemented across Tamil Nadu, except areas under the Maduranthakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies, where bypolls are scheduled for October 6.
According to the state government, around 7.8 lakh children are born in Tamil Nadu every year, with nearly all deliveries taking place in healthcare institutions. Around 4.2 lakh deliveries, or approximately 53 per cent, occur in government hospitals.
The government said the initiative is aimed at encouraging institutional deliveries and strengthening public confidence in government healthcare services.
District-level monitoring committees headed by the respective Collectors have also been formed to oversee implementation, inventory management and distribution of the rings.
Work orders for supplying the gold rings have reportedly been issued to Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers. The scheme was notified through a Government Order issued on June 23, 2026.
The launch was initially scheduled for September 15, the birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C N Annadurai, but was postponed due to Vijay’s overseas visit to London.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the renovated Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai and inspect its facilities.
