Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay is set to introduce a first-of-its-kind welfare initiative called the ‘Thai Maman Gold Ring Scheme’, under which every child born in government hospitals across the state will receive a one-gram gold ring from the government.
The ambitious programme, inspired by the Tamil cultural tradition of “Thai Maman Seer”, has been allocated an annual budget of ₹755.83 crore. The state government has already instructed officials to begin the tender process to ensure smooth implementation of the scheme.
The ‘Thai Maman Gold Ring Scheme’ was one of the major promises made by Vijay during the election campaign and was later incorporated into the government’s ‘Vetri Thamizhagam Vision Document’.
The scheme is scheduled to be officially launched on September 15, 2026, coinciding with the birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai, popularly known as Perarignar Anna.
However, children born in government hospitals from June 22, 2026, which also marks Chief Minister Vijay’s birthday, will be eligible for the benefit.
According to an official government statement, the initiative draws inspiration from the long-standing Tamil custom of “Thai Maman Seer”, where a maternal uncle presents gifts and blessings to a newborn child as a symbol of affection and familial support.
Under the new programme, the Tamil Nadu government will symbolically assume the role of the maternal uncle and present a gold ring to newborns as a gesture of care, love and encouragement.
Officials said the scheme is aimed at preserving Tamil cultural values while simultaneously extending welfare support to newborn children and their families.
While political parties in Tamil Nadu have previously distributed gold rings to babies born in government hospitals to mark the birthdays of prominent leaders, this is the first time such a practice is being institutionalised as an official, state-funded welfare programme.
The government believes the initiative will not only strengthen social welfare measures but also reinforce cultural traditions by connecting them with public welfare policies.
With the launch of the ‘Thai Maman Gold Ring Scheme’, Tamil Nadu is set to become the first state in India to provide gold rings to all eligible newborns through a government-backed programme, combining cultural symbolism with direct benefits for families.