Tamil Nadu orders over 128,000 gold rings for newborns in state hospitals

The Tamil Nadu government has issued work orders to two jewellery retail chains for the supply of 128,499 gold rings under the 'Maternal uncle gold ring scheme', an official confirmed on Saturday. The rings, to be made of 22-carat gold and weighing approximately 128.5 kilograms in total, are valued at roughly Rs 220 crore.

The scheme will commence on September 15, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Dravidian political icon CN Annadurai. Newborns delivered at government hospitals from June 22 onwards—the birthday of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay—will be eligible for the rings under the welfare initiative.

The initial batch of 128,499 rings is designed to sustain the scheme for four months. The state government has made a budgetary allocation of Rs 755.83 crore for the complete annual requirement of 4,41,667 rings, according to official estimates.

The scheme was a key election promise made by the ruling Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). While the final cost of the initial batch may vary from estimates, the state government has committed to bearing the entire expense of the rings for eligible newborns born in government health facilities across Tamil Nadu.