Independence Day 2026: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Announces Gold Ring Gift Scheme for Newborns From September 15 (Video)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Saturday announced that the state’s gold ring gift scheme for newborns will be formally launched on September 15, with an annual allocation of Rs 755.83 crore. Speaking during his Independence Day address, Vijay said the initiative will provide a one-gram gold ring to eligible newborns delivered at government healthcare institutions across the state, according to a report.

Gold Ring Gift Scheme to Be Launched on September 15

The scheme, known as the ‘Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam’, will be officially launched on September 15, the birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravidian leader C.N. Annadurai. The government has earmarked Rs 755.83 crore annually for the programme. A dedicated State Project/Programme Management Unit is also being established to oversee its implementation, monitoring and administration. Armed Naxals Are Gone, but ‘Intellectual Naxals’ Still Lurking: PM Modi’s Independence Day Warning From Red Fort (Video).

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Addresses on 80th Independence Day

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay says, "I salute the people of Tamil Nadu who broke caste and religion considerations, rejecting money and muscle power and gave us overwhelming support to establish the people-centric and social justice government. We are in… https://t.co/izKxpTiLNp pic.twitter.com/1rfjqOkfGd

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

TN CM Vijay Announces Gold Ring Scheme for Newborns

News Alert ! On September 15, gold ring gift scheme for new-borns will be launched at a cost of Rs 755.83 cr: TN CM Vijay in his I-Day address.

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 15, 2026

One-Gram Gold Ring for Newborns

Under the scheme, every eligible newborn delivered in a government hospital will receive a one-gram gold ring. The initiative draws from the Tamil tradition of Thaimaaman Seer, under which a maternal uncle gives gifts and blessings to a newborn. The state government will symbolically take on the role of the maternal uncle through the programme, presenting the ring as a gesture of welcome and support to the child and family.

The scheme is expected to cover around 4.2 lakh deliveries annually, based on government health facilities accounting for about 53% of the roughly 7.8 lakh deliveries recorded in the state each year. Independence Day 2026: Nation Becomes Great When It Moves Forward on Strength of Its Dreams, Says PM Narendra Modi (Video).

Who Will Be Eligible?

The programme is intended for Tamil Nadu residents who deliver at government healthcare institutions. The government order says the benefit will extend to newborns regardless of birth order and will not discriminate based on the child's gender. Beneficiaries will be required to provide proof of residence. Accepted documents include a ration card, voter identity card, Aadhaar, Labour Welfare Board identity card, Department of Posts address card or a nativity certificate.

Scheme Linked to Maternal and Child Welfare

The government has described the initiative as both a welfare measure and an effort to strengthen public healthcare delivery. Tamil Nadu records about 7.8 lakh deliveries annually, with institutional deliveries accounting for 99.9% of births, according to data cited in the government order. Government facilities handle approximately 4.2 lakh of these deliveries.

The order also cited a significant difference in childbirth costs. Average out-of-pocket expenditure for a delivery in a government hospital was reported at around Rs 1,364, compared with Rs 63,473 in private hospitals.

Fulfilling an Election Promise

The gold ring scheme was among Vijay's major election promises. Before the April 2026 Assembly election, he had pledged that the government would provide a gold ring to newborns in the state as part of the maternal-uncle tradition.

The government subsequently approved the scheme, with the formal launch date set for September 15. The programme is therefore being presented as a fulfilment of a key campaign commitment.

Administrative Preparations Underway

To manage the programme across the state's government hospitals, the Tamil Nadu government plans to establish a dedicated administrative unit. Its responsibilities will include implementation, monitoring and management of the scheme. The initiative combines a traditional cultural practice with a state-funded welfare programme, while focusing its benefits on families using government healthcare facilities.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 15, 2026 09:56 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).