Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday launched his government's one-gram gold ring scheme for newborn babies in Madurai, rolling out a welfare programme for which the state has earmarked ₹755.83 crore.
The scheme, formally known as the Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme (Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam) fulfils an electoral promise made by Vijay. Under the programme, eligible newborn babies will receive a one-gram gold ring, with the benefit covering children born on or after June 22, 2026.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu gold ring scheme for babies: Who is eligible, how to avail benefits and other key details
The Tamil Nadu government has procured 1.28 lakh gold rings for the initial phase of the scheme. Each ring will carry a unique serial number and will be handed over in tamper-proof packaging, according to the state government.
Who is eligible for the gold ring scheme?
The benefit will be available to mothers who are permanent residents of Tamil Nadu and have registered under the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) system and obtained a Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) ID.
For babies born in government hospitals after the scheme's launch, the gold ring will be provided at the time of discharge.
The government has also drawn up a separate mechanism to cover eligible babies born between June 22 and the formal launch of the programme.
Gold rings for these beneficiaries will be distributed through 107 hubs across Tamil Nadu. The distribution is scheduled to begin on September 28, with each hub handling 100 babies per day.
The government said the initiative is intended to encourage families to opt for institutional deliveries and government healthcare facilities while strengthening maternal and child health protection.
It also seeks to build greater public confidence in government medical services and forms part of the state's broader child welfare measures.
