Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to launch the state government’s Thaai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, or Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme, for newborns at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on Monday. Under the scheme, eligible babies born in government hospitals and primary health centres will receive a one-gram gold ring. The programme covers children born from June 22, 2026, and is being implemented across Tamil Nadu.
The scheme provides a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring to eligible newborns, with each ring carrying a unique serial number and being supplied in tamper-proof packaging. The government has procured 1.28 lakh rings for the first phase of implementation. The initiative was introduced as part of the state’s broader plans to celebrate childbirth, encourage institutional deliveries and strengthen public confidence in government healthcare facilities.
Eligibility is linked to the mother’s residency and registration details. Mothers must be permanent residents of Tamil Nadu and must have registered under the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation system and obtained a Reproductive and Child Health identification number. The benefit applies to eligible children born in government hospitals from June 22, 2026, subject to the prescribed conditions.
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The government has also made arrangements to distribute rings to babies born between June 22 and the launch date. A network of 107 distribution hubs has been designated for clearing this backlog, with arrangements to distribute rings to up to 100 eligible babies per day at each hub. For eligible newborns delivered in government hospitals after the scheme begins, the ring will be provided when the child is discharged from the hospital.
The scheme carries an annual financial outlay of ₹755.83 crore, according to reports, and is expected to cover a substantially larger number of newborns over a full year than the initial batch of rings procured for the launch. The state government has linked the programme to its wider maternal and child healthcare objectives, including encouraging families to choose government hospitals for childbirth.
The statewide rollout has been affected by the Model Code of Conduct in force for by-elections in the Maduranthakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies. As a result, the launch is being implemented across districts other than Chengalpattu and Tiruppur, which include the two constituencies, according to the state government. The Madurai launch will mark the beginning of distribution under the new welfare programme for eligible newborns.
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