Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay successfully launched the state government's 'Thaai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam' or Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on September 28, 2026. As reported by The Times of India, Vijay presented 22-carat, one-gram gold rings to 25 newborns during the statewide launch, fulfilling his electoral promise. The launch programme is initially covering a limited number of beneficiaries, with more gold rings to be distributed at government hospitals across Tamil Nadu. The scheme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Vijay, marking his first official engagement in Madurai since assuming office.
The Tamil Nadu government has earmarked ₹755.83 crore annually for the scheme and has procured 1.28 lakh gold rings for initial distribution. As reported by government sources, each eligible newborn will receive a 22-carat gold ring weighing one gram with a unique serial number in tamper-proof packaging. The scheme will be implemented across Tamil Nadu, except in areas falling under the Maduranthakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies, where bypolls are scheduled to be held on October 6, 2026. A Government Order on implementation of the scheme was notified on June 23, 2026, and work orders have been issued to Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers for supplying the one-gram gold rings. The first phase will use the 1.28 lakh gold rings purchased by the Tamil Nadu government for eligible newborns.
To qualify for the Tamil Nadu gold ring scheme, both the mother and newborn must meet specific requirements. According to government details, the mother must be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu, the newborn must be delivered at a government hospital in Tamil Nadu on or after June 22, 2026, and the pregnancy must be registered under the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) system. The beneficiary must also have a valid Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) ID. As reported by The Times of India, mothers will need to submit proof of residence to avail the benefit, with documents accepted including ration cards, voter identity cards, Aadhaar, Labour Welfare Board identity cards, Department of Posts address cards and nativity certificates. The gold ring will be provided when the beneficiary is discharged from the hospital.
The scheme is named after the Tamil tradition of a maternal uncle giving gifts to a newborn, with the initiative aimed at increasing public trust in government healthcare services and promoting safe deliveries in hospitals. According to government data, around 7.80 lakh children are born in Tamil Nadu every year, of which around 4.20 lakh deliveries, or 53%, take place in government hospitals. The government cited National Family Health Survey-6 data, according to which 99.9% of births in Tamil Nadu take place in healthcare institutions, with around 90% of government institutional deliveries occurring at Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) centres. The initiative is part of the government's broader Vettri Tamilagam vision and seeks to mark the birth of children at state-run hospitals while promoting institutional deliveries and encouraging greater reliance on government healthcare services.
For babies born after the scheme's launch date of September 28, the 1-gram gold ring will be handed over when the mother and child are discharged from the government hospital. As reported by government sources, for babies delivered earlier on or after June 22, the government has designated 107 hubs across the state, each distributing rings to up to 100 babies per day as part of backlog clearance. The rings will carry unique serial numbers and will be distributed in tamper-proof packaging. The scheme was originally scheduled to launch on September 15, 2026, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai, but was postponed due to Vijay's overseas trip to London. Through the initiative, the state government aims to promote institutional deliveries, build public confidence in government-run medical facilities and strengthen its focus on maternal and child health.
