CM Vijay launched the Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram scheme at Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital on 28 Sep 2026, placing the first one-gram gold ring on baby Muthu Yazhini; it went live in 107 government hospitals for about 1.28 lakh newborns.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday, September 28, 2026, launched the Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram (“Maternal Uncle’s Gold Ring”) scheme at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, bringing into force one of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s best-known election promises: a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring for every baby born in a Tamil Nadu government hospital or primary health centre. He placed the first ring on a newborn named Muthu Yazhini. On the same day, ministers and MLAs launched the scheme in 107 government hospitals across the state, covering about 1.28 lakh children in the first phase.
Vijay flew into Madurai by special flight at about 10:30 AM and was received at the airport by ministers, officials and TVK functionaries. He then travelled to the hospital in a road show through Perungudi, Mandela Nagar, Chinthamani, the Ring Road and Karuppayurani, with people lining the route to greet him.
The government function, held in the hospital’s seminar hall at around 12:30 PM, opened with the Tamil Thai Vazhthu. Dressed in a silk veshti and shirt, the Chief Minister placed the rings on the babies himself. Mothers handed him their newborns and took selfies with him; according to Maalaimalar, the first baby to receive a ring smiled up at him. After a group photograph with the beneficiary families, he went to the maternity ward, placed rings on ten more newborns, and spoke with the mothers about their treatment and about looking after their health after delivery.
Minister Arun Raj, speaking at the ceremony, said the scheme honours the special bond between a child and its maternal uncle — the thaimaman, who traditionally gifts gold at a child’s birth — with the government taking on that role for every child born in a government hospital. He said that when the question arose of where to launch it, the Chief Minister chose Madurai, which he described as sacred soil blessed by the goddess Meenakshi (ANI).
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible? | Babies born in Tamil Nadu government hospitals and government primary health centres |
| From when? | Babies born on or after 22 June 2026 |
| What is given? | A one-gram, 22-carat (916-hallmark) gold ring |
| How is it protected? | Each ring carries a unique serial number and comes in tamper-proof packaging |
| When is it handed over? | When the mother and baby are discharged from the hospital |
| Is an application needed? | No separate application has been announced; the ring is given through the hospital |
| Where is it paused? | Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies, until the 6 October by-elections are over (ANI) |
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 2026 election | TVK promises a gold ring for every baby born in a government hospital |
| 22 June 2026 | Eligibility date — babies born from this day are covered |
| 2026-27 | Annual budget of ₹755.83 crore set aside for the scheme |
| September 2026 | About 4.42 lakh rings ordered — 70% from Joyalukkas, 30% from Kalyan Jewellers |
| 10 September 2026 | Madras High Court upholds the tender |
| 18 September 2026 | CM confirms 28 September as the launch date at a review meeting |
| 28 September 2026 | Launched in Madurai and 107 government hospitals |
The scheme links a cherished Tamil tradition to public health goals: by rewarding births in government hospitals and primary health centres, it also encourages safe institutional deliveries. With the Gold Ring now live, VettriThalapathy’s manifesto tracker lists it as a promise kept.
Sources: ANI, Daily Thanthi, Maalaimalar, ETV Bharat, IBC Tamil, TN DIPR.
Gold Ring Scheme Welfare Madurai Day 141