NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s one-gram gold ring scheme for newborns has been postponed as he prepares for his first official overseas visit to London. The scheme, scheduled to be launched on September 15, has been deferred as Vijay is set to meet European industrialists and pitch Tamil Nadu as an investment destination.Vijay will leave Chennai for London via Dubai on Wednesday night and is expected to stay in the UK capital for a few days. He will travel on an Emirates Airlines passenger flight.During the visit, Vijay is expected to invite European companies to set up businesses in Tamil Nadu and seek fresh investment commitments for the state. Senior officials from the industries and finance departments are also expected to travel to London. Some may leave ahead of the chief minister to prepare for his meetings with prospective investors.The visit comes soon after the ‘Vettri Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2026’, where the state government announced investment commitments worth Rs 1,02,514 crore through 104 memorandums of understanding (MoUs).Security and protocol arrangements for Vijay’s departure are also being finalised. A high-level Advance Security Liaison meeting is reportedly scheduled at Chennai’s old airport on Wednesday to review the arrangements.Vijay’s London visit also comes amid key political developments in Tamil Nadu. Before leaving for the UK, he is scheduled to chair a second alliance coordination meeting at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam headquarters in Panaiyur.The meeting is expected to discuss the structure of the ruling alliance and post-poll coalition arrangements. A Common Minimum Programme is also on the agenda, along with discussions on a steering committee and an official name for the alliance.Invitations have reportedly been sent to all alliance partners, including Congress, VCK, IUML, MDMK, CPI and CPM. Congress, VCK, IUML and MDMK have confirmed their attendance, while the Left parties are likely to stay away.
What is the gold ring scheme?
Vijay had announced the one-gram gold ring scheme ahead of the April 23 Assembly election. The initiative was planned as a symbolic gift to newborns and draws on the Tamil tradition of ‘Thaimaaman Seer’.Under the scheme, every newborn delivered at a government health facility will receive a one-gram gold ring. At the current gold rate, the ring is worth around Rs 13,600.“Through this scheme, the government assumes the role of the maaman (uncle) for every child born in its institutions, presenting a gold ring as an enduring token of welcome,” a government order said.The scheme was originally scheduled to be launched on September 15, which coincides with the birth anniversary of former chief minister C N Annadurai.It will have retrospective effect from June 22, Vijay’s birthday. The government order issued on June 23 described the initiative as a token celebrating the birth of the child, motherhood and the cultural tradition of ‘Thaimaaman’.The state has allocated around Rs 755.83 crore annually for the scheme, which will cover all newborns delivered at government institutions. There will be no restriction based on birth order and no gender-based discrimination.The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation will procure the gold rings and supply them based on annual requirements. A project and programme management unit will also be established to oversee implementation and monitoring.Tamil Nadu records around 7.8 lakh deliveries each year, with institutional deliveries accounting for 99.9% of births, according to NFHS-6. Government health facilities account for nearly 4.2 lakh deliveries, or about 53% of the total.According to the state government, the average out-of-pocket expenditure for a delivery at a government hospital is Rs 1,364, compared with Rs 63,473 at a private hospital.The scheme is open to Tamil Nadu residents whose children are delivered at government institutions. Mothers will have to submit proof of residence, with documents such as ration cards, voter identity cards, Aadhaar, Labour Welfare Board identity cards, Department of Posts address cards and nativity certificates accepted.
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The government said the initiative was intended to combine cultural significance with public healthcare.“Gold carries profound cultural and emotional resonance in Tamil Nadu. Gifting gold to a newborn celebrates the baby’s arrival, honours the mother’s noble journey and transforms public health delivery into a source of immense community pride,” the order said.
