The state government’s 22-carat, one-gram gold ring scheme for newborn babies was inaugurated on Monday by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam spokesperson C Joseph Vijay, who had promised the scheme as a pledge in the last election.
This plan, dubbed officially by its nickname as the Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam or Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme, was now beginning at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. At the event, Vijay held newborn babies and distributed gold rings to the beneficiaries.
The Tamil Nadu government has budgeted Rs 755.83 crore per annum provision for the scheme. It is being targeted to government health care institutions and the first delivery of 1.28 lakh one gram gold rings have been made.
Eligible babies born alive, from midnight, June 22nd 2026, in government hospitals and PHCs will be given a gold ring of one gram in the scheme. It serves the Tamil Nadu government eligible citizens, and is available only to children born in one of the government health institutions.
The scheme is being introduced to recognise motherhood and the celebration of childbirth and to promote more government hospitals and primary health centres to become delivery locations, the government said. It is also directed at enhancing the confidence of people on the state provided health services and towards maternal and child health.
The new scheme was initiated to fulfil the government’s duties to the people, and it was then drawn up for application all throughout the State. Hindus in Madurai will be the first to use it officially.
The government has also made arrangements to ensure the distribution process is followed-up. The gold rings have one-to-one serial numbers and are being delivered in tamper-proof packages, the reports said.
It coincides with the ongoing effort in the state to continue expanding initiatives targeting high impact and improved public healthcare service delivery and access to institutional health services. The scheme is gradually being rolled out, and will benefit eligible newborns across Tamil Nadu.