Tamil Nadu launches gold-ring scheme for babies born in public hospitals

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has launched a statewide scheme to give a one-gram gold ring to every baby born in a government hospital or primary health centre. The Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam was launched on Monday at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.

The programme is one of the promises made by Vijay during the Assembly election campaign and is being applied retrospectively to babies born in government hospitals from June 22, his birthday. Vijay presented rings to 37 newborns on the first day, including three children whose mothers belong to different religious communities. The launch event was attended by Health Minister K.G.

Arunraj, who linked the initiative to the cultural role of a maternal uncle in welcoming and supporting a new child. Arunraj said the state’s public-health system included medical infrastructure, trained personnel, financial assistance, emergency obstetric care, nutritional support, free deliveries and newborn services. He said the scheme was intended to honour children born in government hospitals and strengthen public confidence in state healthcare.

According to figures provided by the minister, about 780,000 children are born annually in Tamil Nadu, with roughly 420,000 deliveries taking place in government hospitals. The source said 99.9 per cent of deliveries in the state occur in medical institutions, citing National Family Health Survey-6 data. Around 90 per cent of deliveries take place at Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care centres in 130 government hospitals, Arunraj said.

The government order for the scheme was issued on June 23, and ₹755.83 crore has been allocated for implementation this year. Vijay later inaugurated the renovated Gandhi Memorial Museum and visited the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai.