Chennai: With the Tamil Nadu government preparing to roll out the new ‘Thai Maaman Gold Ring Scheme’, jewellery companies that won the supply contract have begun dispatching the rings from their outlets.
Chief Minister Vijay has announced that newborns delivered in government hospitals will be given a one-gram gold ring. Following this, the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation is set to distribute one ring each to 4.41 lakh babies annually.
The scheme is scheduled to start on September 15. To store the rings, the state government has ordered the installation of modern security vaults at 107 centres across Tamil Nadu. A budget allocation of Rs 2,560 crore has been earmarked for the programme.
Joy Alukkas Group’s Chairman and Managing Director said the company has been assigned the first phase responsibility to manufacture and supply 89,955 rings in four phases. The rings are being packed in specially designed pouches clearly marked with the scheme’s name.
He added that packing and dispatch have begun from two dedicated centres in Chennai and Coimbatore. While the government pays for gold at prevailing market rates, the company will handle manufacturing, hallmarking, secure packing and distribution.
