Tamil Nadu to launch gold ring scheme for newborns

The Tamil Nadu government is preparing to launch the ‘Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram’ scheme, which will provide 1-gram, 22-carat gold rings to every newborn in government hospitals. The formal rollout is scheduled for September 15, 2026. To fulfill the contract, the government has split the work between jewellery firms Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers as part of a ₹755-crore initiative.

To secure the jewelry, Health Secretary Darez Ahamed has ordered the Public Works Department to fortify storage facilities at 107 high-load emergency obstetric and newborn care centres. Requirements include sealing storage room windows, anchoring cupboards to walls and floors, and installing metal grills.

The Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association (SDPGA) has expressed concerns regarding the logistics. The association urged the government to route the scheme through scheduled banks rather than making hospital staff responsible for the gold, arguing that the current plan could divert medical personnel from clinical care and incur approximately Rs 84.2 lakh in annual administrative and security costs.