Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Launches One-Gram Gold Ring Scheme for Newborns
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Chennai, September 28: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday launched the state government’s ‘Thaai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam’ (Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme), under which eligible babies born in government hospitals will receive a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring.
Tamil Nadu records around 7.8 lakh births annually, with approximately 4.2 lakh, or 53 per cent, taking place in government hospitals. The government has made an annual budgetary provision of ₹755.83 crore to provide about 4.41 lakh gold rings a year.
The scheme was announced by Vijay as an electoral promise ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election. It draws on the traditional Tamil practice of the ‘thaai maaman’, or maternal uncle, giving gifts to a newborn.
The launch is being carried out across the state, with implementation excluded in constituencies where by-elections are scheduled and the Model Code of Conduct is in force. The government had initially planned to launch the scheme on September 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai, but postponed it following Vijay’s UK visit.
Vijay launched the scheme at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai and presented gold rings to 25 newborns. The government said the initiative seeks to honour motherhood, celebrate childbirth, encourage institutional deliveries and strengthen public confidence in government healthcare institutions.
The scheme has been made effective retrospectively from June 22, 2026, covering eligible babies born in government hospitals and primary health centres from that date. Mothers must be permanent residents of Tamil Nadu and registered under the state’s pregnancy and infant monitoring system, including the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) system and Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) ID.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay launches the ‘Thaai Maaman Thanga Mothiram’ scheme in #Madurai. CM puts rings on babies’ fingers, holds them, and gives a young emotional mother a warm hug.#Vijay pic.twitter.com/0oQiwB6Jbw
— The Federal (@TheFederal_News) September 28, 2026
The government has procured 1.28 lakh gold rings in the first phase. Each ring will carry a unique serial number and be supplied in tamper-proof packaging. For babies born between June 22 and September 27, distribution is being organised through 107 hub centres. From September 28, eligible newborns will receive the ring before leaving the government hospital.
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The scheme was announced by Vijay as an electoral promise ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election. It draws on the traditional Tamil practice of the ‘thaai maaman’, or maternal uncle, giving gifts to a newborn.
The launch is being carried out across the state, with implementation excluded in constituencies where by-elections are scheduled and the Model Code of Conduct is in force. The government had initially planned to launch the scheme on September 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai, but postponed it following Vijay’s UK visit.