CM Vijay to launch gold ring scheme for newborns in Madurai: Who is qualified and what’s the procedure
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S. Joseph Vijay is scheduled to launch the state government’s new one-gram gold ring programme for newborns at a government hospital in Madurai on September 28.
Named the ‘Thaai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam’, the initiative will provide a one-gram gold ring to eligible babies born at government hospitals across Tamil Nadu. The Madurai programme is also expected to be Vijay’s first reported official engagement in the city since he took charge as chief minister.
According to the Tamil Nadu government, the scheme will be applicable retrospectively to eligible babies born from June 22, 2026. The first phase has seen the procurement of 1.28 lakh gold rings.
The programme has been introduced under the government’s broader Vettri Tamilagam vision. Officials have said the initiative is intended to recognise children born in government hospitals, promote institutional deliveries and improve public confidence in state-run healthcare.
The scheme also draws from the Tamil tradition of ‘Thaaimaman Seer’, under which a maternal uncle gives gifts to a newborn.
Each ring will reportedly carry a unique serial number and be packed in tamper-proof packaging. To qualify, the mother must be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu and have registered under the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) system with a valid Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) ID.
The government has planned a special mechanism to clear the backlog of eligible babies born between June 22 and the launch date. Distribution will take place through 107 hubs across the state, with each hub expected to distribute rings to around 100 babies a day.
For babies born at government hospitals after the scheme begins, the ring is expected to be handed over at the time of discharge.
The state government has linked the initiative to its broader maternal and child healthcare objectives, saying it could encourage institutional deliveries while highlighting its focus on newborn and maternal welfare.