Tamil Nadu to Gift Newborns Gold Rings in Unique Welfare Push
What Happened
The Tamil Nadu government will launch the Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam (Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme) on September 28. Under the scheme, babies born in government hospitals will receive a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring. The first phase covers 1.28 lakh beneficiaries, with 1,28,499 rings already procured. The scheme is applicable to babies born in government hospitals from June 22, 2026, provided their families are permanent residents of Tamil Nadu. Each ring will carry a unique serial number and come in tamper-proof packaging.
Key Takeaways
The scheme aims to encourage childbirth in government hospitals and strengthen public healthcare adoption while drawing on the Tamil tradition of a maternal uncle gifting a newborn. The state has allocated around ₹755.83 crore annually for the programme, which is expected to cover about 4.41 lakh newborns a year.