Newborns given free gold

MADURAI, India (AFP) — Authorities in India’s Tamil Nadu state gave babies born in government-run hospitals a free gold ring on Monday, an initiative aimed at boosting confidence in the public healthcare system.

Under the scheme launched by actor-turned-Chief Minister Vijay, all babies born in public health facilities in the state are eligible for a one-gram gold ring, worth some $143.

Gold has immense cultural significance in India, featuring prominently in weddings and religious ceremonies, and seen as a safe generational asset.

“The gold ring would give the child something valuable to keep for the years ahead,” said one mother at a government hospital in the state’s Madurai district, who declined to give her name.

She was among dozens of mothers who cradled their newborns as they queued up to receive the gift.

“This scheme feels personal,” another grateful mother, Stella Mary, told AFP.

Officials say the initiative aims to highlight maternal and newborn care, while strengthening faith in public healthcare institutions in the southern state of over 72 million people.

The scheme, however, drew some criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in the opposition in Tamil Nadu.

“A gold ring for a newborn may be a welcome gesture, but for families, the most immediate need is ensuring that essential nutrition is available every day,” party member Tamilisai Soundararajan said in a social media post.

India’s overcrowded public hospitals often struggle with staff shortages, long waiting times and patchy infrastructure, prompting many patients to seek treatment in the costly private sector.