How much will Vijay’s gold ring scheme for newborns actually cost Tamil Nadu exchequer

CHIEF Minister Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government has issued work orders for nearly 1.28 lakh gold rings, costing approximately ₹220 crore, to two jewellery retail chains under the Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam or the 'Maternal uncle gold ring scheme' for newborns, a pre-poll promise made by TVK.

The rings will be distributed to babies born in government hospitals as part of an effort to encourage institutional deliveries and increase public confidence in the state healthcare system.

The first batch of around 1,28,499 rings will cover eligible babies born between June and September.

The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) has already issued the work orders to Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers on 70:30 ratio to supply the first batch of 1.28 lakh gold rings among beneficiaries.

Joyalukkas' 70 per cent share will work out to 89,949 rings, while Kalyan Jewellers' 30 per cent share will comprise 38,550 rings from the first batch.

Varies with gold rate

Each newborn baby born at government facilities across the state will receive a gold ring, which costs about ₹14,950 at today's rate, to celebrate the arrival of a child in the family in sync with the cultural practice of Thaimaman Seer (maternal uncle's gift) welcoming the newborn and blessing the family.

The ₹220 crore would be the cost of the first batch of 1,28,499 rings (22-carat) weighing approximately 128.5 kg. The Tamil Nadu government has made a budgetary provision of ₹755.83 crore for the supply of a total of 4,41,667 rings for one year.

Though the final cost for the initial batch of rings may vary dynamically, the state government has undertaken to pay for the gold at the prevailing market rates.

The gold rate is approximately ₹16,308 per gram for 24-karat gold and ₹14,950 per gram for 22-karat gold in Chennai on 24 August.

The scheme, announced by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the run-up to the April Assembly election, will cover the children born in state-run hospitals to encourage deliveries in government medical facilities.

The scheme will be officially launched on September 15, marking the birth anniversary of Dravidian icon CN Annadurai. Children born in government hospitals from June 22, the birthday of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, will benefit under this scheme.

Dedicated administrative body

Chief Minister Vijay-led TVK government said it will form a dedicated administrative body to implement, monitor, and manage the scheme for newborns.

"Through this scheme, the government assumes the role of the maaman (uncle) for every child born in its institutions, presenting a gold ring as an enduring token of welcome," a government order said.

Approximately 7.8 lakh deliveries are recorded in the state annually, with institutional deliveries constituting 99.9 per cent of all births as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6). Among them, the government health facilities contribute nearly 4.2 lakh deliveries (53 per cent). The average out-of-pocket expenditure per delivery in government hospitals is only ₹1,364 compared to ₹63,473 in private hospitals, it said.

"The one-gram gold ring to newborns delivered in government institutions is a token of appreciation and remembrance, commemorating the birth of the child and celebrating the joy and significance of motherhood through the Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam," the GO released on June 23 said.

Vijay, who founded the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam two years ago, piloted the party to victory, making it the only political party in the state to garner 107 seats and formed a coalition government with the support of Congress, VCK, IUML and the Left parties.

"Gold carries profound cultural and emotional resonance in Tamil Nadu. Gifting gold to a newborn celebrates the baby's arrival, honours the mother's noble journey and transforms public health delivery into a source of immense community pride. Also, this token remains an enduring asset, generating lasting institutional goodwill that spreads via word of mouth," the GO said.

Who are eligible?

The scheme targets beneficiaries who are residents of Tamil Nadu. All pregnant mothers delivering at government institutions and mothers having newborns are eligible under the scheme.

The beneficiaries must submit residential proof through a ration card or voter identity card, Aadhaar, ID card issued by the Labour Welfare Boards, proof of address card issued by the Department of Posts, or Nativity Certificate.

"The scheme extends coverage to all newborns, regardless of birth order. Mothers with Higher Order Births (HOB) are eligible for benefits without restriction. The distribution of gold rings under this scheme shall be conducted without any gender-based discrimination. Benefits are provided irrespective of the gender of the newborn child," the GO stated.

The gold rings would be procured through the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC), which will supply them based on the yearly indent given by the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

The gold ring scheme announced by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will cost an estimated ₹755.83 crore annually.

Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram Scheme: Key details

Annual budget: The Tamil Nadu government has allocated ₹755.83 crore annually to provide 4,41,667 gold rings.

Initial rollout: The first four-month work orders, worth around ₹220 crore, cover nearly 1.28 lakh rings.

Cost per ring: Each 1-gram, 22-carat gold ring is expected to cost the government approximately ₹13,600–₹14,850, depending on prevailing gold prices.

Scheme name: Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam (Maternal Uncle’s Gold Ring Scheme).

Eligibility: Newborns delivered at government hospitals in Tamil Nadu from June 22, 2026, onwards are eligible.

Launch: The formal rollout is scheduled for September 15, 2026.

Through this scheme, the government assumes the role of the maaman (uncle) for every child born in its institutions.

Procurement: Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers have secured the contracts under a 70:30 supply arrangement.

Making charge: Joyalukkas reportedly won the competitive bid by quoting a nominal 1 paisa (₹0.01) making/service charge per ring over the prevailing market gold rate.