TN: Vijay to launch gold ring scheme for newborns

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will launch the state government's one-gram gold ring scheme for babies born in government hospitals on Monday, with the first batch of 1.28 lakh rings ready for distribution.The Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, or maternal uncle gold ring scheme, will be launched in Madurai on September 28.

The government had announced the launch date on September 18 following a review meeting chaired by Vijay at the Secretariat.Also read: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay returns from UK with Rs 15,300 crore investment commitments, 10,000 jobsThe scheme will cover eligible children born in government hospitals from June 22, 2026.

The government has made the benefit retrospective to June 22, which is Vijay's birthday.Each beneficiary is said to receive a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring bearing a unique serial number and packed in tamper-proof packaging. The first phase has 1.28 lakh rings ready for distribution.For babies born between June 22 and September 27, the rings will be distributed from 107 hub centres.

From September 28, eligible newborns will receive the ring before leaving the government hospital with their mother.The scheme is available to beneficiaries who are permanent residents of Tamil Nadu. The government has said mothers must also be registered under the state's pregnancy and infant monitoring system to avail the benefit.Tamil Nadu records around 7.8 lakh births annually, of which about 4.2 lakh, or 53%, take place in government hospitals, according to government data cited in the announcement.The state has made an annual budgetary provision of Rs 755.83 crore for supplying 4.41 lakh one-gram, 22-carat gold rings over the full year.

The first batch was procured through the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation from Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers in a 70:30 ratio.The launch was originally scheduled for September 15, coinciding with the birth anniversary of former chief minister C N Annadurai, but was postponed as Vijay was travelling to the UK.

The government subsequently fixed September 28 as the new launch date.The scheme was one of the promises made by Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.