Cuddalore, Sept 28: The State government on Monday began distributing one-gram gold rings to newborns at government hospitals in Cuddalore district as part of the Thaimaaman Thanga Modhiram scheme, officials said. The distribution at the Cuddalore Government Headquarters Hospital was launched by Minister for Housing and Urban Development B. Rajkumar, following Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s inauguration of the scheme at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.
Objective and official rationale
Mr. Rajkumar said the initiative was intended to encourage institutional deliveries at government facilities and to strengthen public confidence in state-run healthcare services. He described the measure as one aimed at improving uptake of maternal and newborn services in government hospitals.
"The initiative was aimed at increasing institutional deliveries in government hospitals, and strengthening public confidence in government healthcare facilities," said Mr. Rajkumar.
Who will benefit and where
Officials said a total of 3,120 babies born between June 22 and September 25 in Cuddalore district will receive the one-gram gold rings in a phased distribution across four hospitals. Babies born from September 26 onwards will be given rings at their respective hospitals.
| Hospital | Blocks covered | No. of beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| Cuddalore Government Headquarters Hospital | Cuddalore, Annagramam, Kurinjipadi, Panruti | 1,327 |
| Government Cuddalore Medical College Hospital | Bhuvanagiri, Keerapalayam, Parangipettai | 543 |
| Chidambaram Government Hospital | Kattumannarkoil, Kumaratchi | 493 |
| Vriddhachalam Government Hospital | Vriddhachalam, Kammapuram, Mangalur, Nallur | 757 |
Distribution schedule and process
The distribution will be carried out block-wise between September 28 and October 14. To avoid crowding and ensure orderly operations, officials said rings will be handed out daily in two fixed sessions — at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. — with each session capped at 25 beneficiaries. This sets the maximum daily allocation per centre at 50 rings.
- Distribution period: Sept 28–Oct 14
- Daily sessions: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Cap per session: 25 beneficiaries (50 per centre per day)
Eligibility and documentation
Mothers will be required to produce any one of six prescribed Tamil Nadu residency and identity proofs to claim the benefit. The accepted documents are:
- e-KYC-verified Aadhaar card
- Residency certificate
- Voter identity card
- Family card (ration card)
- Identity card issued by the Labour Welfare Board
- Address certificate issued by the Postal department
Authorities said the documentation requirement is aimed at ensuring that the benefit reaches eligible residents of the state.
Administration and local presence
Cuddalore Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar was present at the launch. Officials overseeing the programme have organised the phased distribution to correspond with block-wise lists of beneficiaries compiled for the district.
Background and implications
The Thaimaaman Thanga Modhiram scheme, inaugurated by the Chief Minister in Madurai, is part of the state government’s broader effort to promote institutional births and bolster confidence in public healthcare services. By offering a symbolic incentive in the form of a one-gram gold ring, the government aims to attract more expectant mothers to deliver at government hospitals, where institutional care is available free or at subsidised rates.
Health administrators will need to monitor attendance at the scheduled sessions to maintain the stated caps and prevent overcrowding. The block-wise approach and identity-proof requirement are intended to ensure orderly distribution and curtail misuse.
The programme’s effectiveness in increasing institutional deliveries and improving maternal-newborn outcomes will depend on continued outreach, clear communication of eligibility rules and the steady supply of the items promised under the scheme.
Published reports on Monday provided the scheme details and schedule for Cuddalore district.
