Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday rolled out the 'Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam' — a flagship welfare scheme that gifts a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring to every newborn delivered in a government hospital — launching it at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai and fulfilling one of his ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's key poll promises.The scheme covers babies born in government hospitals and primary health centres on or after June 22, 2026, the chief minister's birthday. The rings will be BIS hallmarked and will carry the Tamil Nadu government logo, an image of Vijay and the scheme's name, according to reports.
The state government has earmarked Rs 755.83 crore for the initiative and has already procured 1.28 lakh rings for the initial rollout, with procurement plans for more than 4.4 lakh rings established within three months, PTI reported.
Eligibility conditions
Mothers must be permanent residents of Tamil Nadu, registered under the state's Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) system, and must hold a Reproductive and Child Health ID. Each ring carries a unique serial number and is handed over in tamper-proof packaging. For babies born after the launch date, the ring will be given at the hospital at the time of discharge; the government is also clearing the backlog of eligible babies born since June 22 through 107 hubs across the state.
The scheme draws on the Tamil tradition of 'Thaimaaman Seer', honouring the maternal uncle's bond with a newborn. Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said government data showed that choosing government hospitals for childbirth saves families significant expense compared with private facilities, which can often push families into debt.
At the Madurai launch, Vijay personally presented rings to newborns on stage and later walked into the hospital's maternity ward to hand rings to ten more infants. The chief minister also inaugurated the renovated Gandhi Memorial Museum and offered prayers at the Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple during his first official visit to the temple city, drawing large crowds along his route. The scheme will apply across the state except in Maduranthakam and Dharapuram, where bypolls are due.
Sources: The Hindu, Millennium Post (PTI), The Statesman