Minister for Housing and Urban Development B. Rajkumar on Monday launched the distribution of one-gram gold rings to babies born at the Cuddalore Government Headquarters Hospital, following Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s inauguration of the Thaimaaman Thanga Modhiram scheme at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Rajkumar said the initiative was aimed at increasing institutional deliveries in government hospitals, and strengthening public confidence in government healthcare facilities.
In Cuddalore district, 3,120 babies born between June 22 and September 25 will receive gold rings in a phased manner at four hospitals. Babies born from September 26 onwards will be given the rings at their respective hospitals.
As many as 1,327 babies from Cuddalore, Annagramam, Kurinjipadi and Panruti blocks will receive rings at the Cuddalore Government Headquarters Hospital. Another 543 newborns from Bhuvanagiri, Keerapalayam and Parangipettai blocks will receive them at the Government Cuddalore Medical College Hospital.
At the Chidambaram Government Hospital, 493 infants from Kattumannarkoil and Kumaratchi blocks will be covered, while 757 beneficiaries from Vriddhachalam, Kammapuram, Mangalur and Nallur blocks will receive the rings at the Vriddhachalam Government Hospital.
The distribution will be conducted block-wise between September 28 and October 14. To prevent overcrowding and maintain orderly operations, distributions will be held daily in two fixed sessions — 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. — capped at 25 beneficiaries per session (50 per centre per day).
To be eligible for the benefit, mothers must present any one of six prescribed Tamil Nadu residency and identity proofs: an e-KYC-verified Aadhaar card, a residency certificate, a voter ID card, a family card (ration card), an identity card issued by the Labour Welfare Board, or an address certificate issued by the Postal department.
Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar was present.
