Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to launch the ‘Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam’ on September 28, offering eligible newborns a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring under a new state welfare scheme.
The Tamil Nadu government’s ‘Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram’ (Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme) aims to support families and encourage childbirth at government healthcare institutions. The scheme will cover babies born in government hospitals and other government healthcare institutions across the state.
The government order for the scheme was notified on June 23, 2026. According to a PTI report, the state has allocated an annual budget of ₹755.83 crore for the programme.
Who is eligible?
The scheme is available to newborns delivered in Tamil Nadu government hospitals and other government healthcare institutions. The mother must be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu.
Families must also have their pregnancy registered under the Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) system and possess a Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) identification number. The benefit applies to newborns regardless of their birth order.
Importantly, the scheme will be implemented retrospectively for babies born from June 22, 2026, which is Vijay’s birthday. Families whose children were born in eligible government institutions from that date can therefore claim the benefit.
How will the scheme work?
Each eligible newborn will receive a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring with a unique serial number. The rings will be packed in tamper-proof packaging.
For babies born between June 22 and September 28, distribution will take place through designated centres. Reports said 107 distribution hubs have been identified, with arrangements to distribute rings to around 100 children each day.
From September 28, eligible babies are expected to receive the ring during discharge from government hospitals. The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation will procure and supply the rings to designated hospitals.
The first phase reportedly includes 1.28 lakh rings. The initiative draws inspiration from the Tamil tradition of ‘Thaimaaman Seer’, in which a maternal uncle presents gifts to a newborn.
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