Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay is set to launch a scheme to gift one-gram gold rings to newborns delivered in government hospitals – a key electoral promise of his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.
The free gold ring scheme cannot be launched in the two bye-election-bound constituencies of Madurantakam and Dharapuram, as the state government has not obtained the Commission’s permission for the scheme, according to Election Commission sources. The scheme is open to newborns of mothers who are permanent residents of Tamil Nadu and are registered on PICME with an RCH identification number. Each ring will have a unique serial number and be supplied in tamper-proof packaging. Seven Assembly seats are currently vacant, and the bye-elections are being held in two of these seats. The polls could have implications for the government’s numbers as it seeks to move closer to a majority. Going forward, eligible newborns will receive the gold ring when they leave the government hospital for home.
However, all babies born in government hospitals from June 22 onwards will be eligible for the benefit, with arrangements made to distribute the rings retrospectively. Tamil Nadu records around 7.8 lakh births annually, according to the government. Nearly 99.9 per cent of deliveries take place in hospitals, while around 4.2 lakh – or 53 per cent — occur in government hospitals. The government says 1.28 lakh rings have already been procured in the first phase. The announcement comes ahead of the October 6 Assembly bye-elections, at a politically significant time for the minority TVK government. From September 22, the rings will be distributed through 107 hubs.
The “Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram” (Maternal Uncle Gold Ring) scheme will be formally launched on September 28. The state has obtained EC clearance only for the expansion of the free breakfast scheme, sources said. The state government says the scheme is intended to strengthen public confidence in government healthcare, encourage safe hospital deliveries and reflect the Tamil tradition of a maternal uncle gifting gold to a newborn. The government says this underlines the significant role of the public health system in ensuring safe deliveries and healthy births.
