Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam in Madurai on 28 September. The scheme gives a one-gram gold ring to eligible newborns delivered in government hospitals.

Each ring is 22-carat gold with a unique serial number, packed in tamper-proof packaging. The scheme applies to babies born from 22 June 2026, and 1.28 lakh rings have been procured for the first phase.

The government has set aside Rs 755.83 crore a year for the programme. For the backlog of babies born before the launch, distribution will run through 107 hubs across the state.

To qualify, the mother must be a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu and be registered under the PICME system with an RCH ID. Two constituencies are excluded because of upcoming bypolls.

Officials say the scheme will build trust in public hospitals and encourage institutional deliveries. The rings will be given at the time of discharge.