The Tamil Nadu government has issued work orders for nearly 1.28 lakh one-gram, 22-carat gold rings at an estimated cost of Rs 220 crore under the “Thaimaman Gold Ring Scheme,” also known as the “Maternal Uncle Gold Ring Scheme.”
The rings will be distributed to babies born in government hospitals as part of an effort to encourage institutional deliveries and increase public confidence in the state healthcare system.
The first batch of around 1,28,499 rings will cover eligible babies born between June and September. The scheme is scheduled to be launched on September 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister and Dravidian leader Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai.
மாண்புமிகு தமிழ்நாடு முதலமைச்சர் அவர்களின் தலைமையில், வெற்றித் தமிழகம் தொலைநோக்கு திட்டங்களுக்கு தமிழ்நாடு அரசு ஒப்புதல் வழங்கியதன்கீழ் “தாய்மாமன் தங்க மோதிரம் திட்டத்தில்" அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளில் ஜுன் 22 முதல் பிறந்த ஒவ்வொரு குழந்தையையும், மற்றும் தாயையும் கௌரவிக்கும் விதமாக தங்க… pic.twitter.com/tb75xHk2r4
— TN DIPR (@TNDIPRNEWS) August 21, 2026
Rs 220 crore initial procurement
According to a government estimate, the initial consignment of 1,28,499 rings will cost approximately Rs 220 crore. The rings will be made of 22-carat gold and will weigh one gram each. However, the final amount may vary because the government has agreed to pay for the gold according to prevailing market prices.
Based on the current market rate in Tamil Nadu, the cost of the gold component is estimated at around Rs 14,850 per gram. The state has also made a total budgetary provision of Rs 755.83 crore for supplying 4,41,667 rings over one year.
The initial order has been divided between two major jewellery retailers:
- Joyalukkas: 89,949 rings, or 70 per cent of the order.
- Kalyan Jewellers: 38,550 rings, or 30 per cent of the order.
The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation, or TNMSC, issued the work orders to the two companies in the 70:30 ratio.
Scheme for babies born in government hospitals
The scheme was announced by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay before the April Assembly Elections 2026. It is intended to provide a gold ring to babies born in government-run hospitals and encourage more families to choose public healthcare facilities for childbirth.
The government said the initiative would commemorate the birth of every child delivered in a state hospital while celebrating “the joy and importance of motherhood.”
In its official statement, the Tamil Nadu government said, “The Thaimaman Gold Ring Scheme is being implemented to strengthen the people’s trust in the healthcare services of the Tamil Nadu government, commemorate the birth of a child born in government hospitals, and to celebrate the joy and importance of motherhood.”
The first phase, covering four months, requires more than one lakh rings. The larger annual requirement is expected to reach 4,41,667 rings.
Tender process and winning bids
For the supply of 4,41,667 one-gram gold rings, a total of 11 companies participated in the tender conducted by TNMSC on July 14 through the Tamil Nadu Tenders portal. Joyalukkas emerged as the lowest bidder after quoting Rs 0.01, or one paisa, excluding the price of one gram of gold. The quoted amount covered additional expenses, including processing, insurance, transportation and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) stamping.
The government said the price was disclosed to the other 10 participating bidders in accordance with the applicable rules. Following this, Kalyan Jewellers agreed to match Joyalukkas’s quoted price and was allotted 30 per cent of the order.
Joyalukkas said the tender was valued at approximately Rs 755 crore, with the cost of gold making up the major portion of the procurement. The company described its bid as a symbolic service charge of just 1 paisa above the prevailing gold rate.
Opposition questions procurement
The tender became the subject of an intense debate in the Assembly this week. Opposition parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), questioned both the procurement process and the unusually low service charge quoted by the successful bidder.
The opposition pointed out that Joyalukkas had quoted only one paisa for additional charges, while other participating firms had quoted amounts ranging from Rs 410.97 to more than Rs 15,000. They described the result as a “highly unusual tender outcome” and sought details about how the winning bid was evaluated. The opposition also questioned why the procurement had been assigned to the TNMSC.
According to the opposition, the corporation was originally established primarily for procuring medicines and medical equipment and for constructing healthcare buildings. They asked whether the procurement of gold jewellery fell within the corporation’s intended responsibilities.
Tamil Nadu Health Minister defends TVK government decision
Health Minister Arunraj defended the government’s decision to implement the scheme through the TNMSC. He said the initiative was important for improving public trust in government hospitals and healthcare services.
The government has maintained that the scheme is a welfare measure intended to promote deliveries in state-run hospitals. Officials said the gold ring would serve both as a celebratory gift for newborns and as an incentive for families to use government medical facilities.