COIMBATORE: As many as 1,200 newborns have been identified in Coimbatore district to receive benefits under the Tamil Nadu govt’s new ‘Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram’ (maternal uncle’s gold ring) scheme, ahead of its formal launch on Sept 15.Govt officials said the scheme, meant for babies born in govt hospitals, would be inaugurated by chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Sept 15, coinciding with former CM C N Annadurai’s birth anniversary. Enumeration work has been under way across the state, including Coimbatore, since June 22.Govt doctors in Coimbatore said under the new scheme, a one-gram gold ring would be provided to babies born in govt hospitals to mothers from families permanently residing in Tamil Nadu. District health officials said newborns from June 22 onwards are being covered in the enumeration, spanning Coimbatore city and surrounding areas, and the current beneficiary count stands at 1,200.Officials said the scheme would be launched locally at Coimbatore Government Medical College Hospital and at govt hospitals in Pollachi and Mettupalayam, with local ministers expected to preside over the events. Enumeration will be carried out in the first phase till Sept 14, and distribution will follow after the scheme’s launch.Meanwhile, sections of the jewellery manufacturing industry in Coimbatore expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the procurement model may not benefit local gold jewellery production units, including MSMEs. Coimbatore Jewellery Manufacturers Association president P Muthu Venkataram said Tamil Nadu ranks third nationally in gold and jewellery manufacturing and that Coimbatore produces about 100 tonne of gold jewellery annually. He said instead of issuing a bulk order to a single contractor, the govt could have directly engaged manufacturers in gold jewellery hubs like Coimbatore.
