How can ECI render case against byelections to five Tamil Nadu constituencies infructuous, wonders CM Vijay’s counsel

In India's Tamil Nadu state, newborns born at government-run hospitals received a free gold ring on Monday. The initiative, launched by actor-turned-chief minister Vijay, aimed to bolster confidence in the public healthcare system. The one-gram gold ring, valued at approximately $143, held great cultural significance in India, where gold played a pivotal role in weddings, religious ceremonies, and as a long-term generational asset.

Mothers expressed personal attachment to the scheme, viewing it as a special gift for their children's future. Officials emphasized the scheme's goal of highlighting maternal and newborn care while reinforcing public trust in healthcare institutions. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party, currently in the opposition in Tamil Nadu, criticized the initiative, stating that families' immediate needs included securing daily nutrition.

India's public hospitals often faced challenges such as staff shortages, lengthy wait times, and inadequate infrastructure, leading many patients to seek treatment in costly private facilities. Although most Indian women gave birth in hospitals, home deliveries still occurred in certain rural communities, making institutional childbirth a priority for health authorities.

Despite recent progress, India still grappled with high infant and maternal mortality rates, with 24 infant deaths per 1,000 live births and 88 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, according to official data. The "Thaimaman" program, named after the special role of a maternal uncle, leveraged the cultural importance of gold and the metal's popularity among Indian women, particularly those in rural areas, who often used gold jewelry as a means of personal financial security.

India stood as one of the world's largest consumers of gold, with demand reaching $25 billion in the first quarter of the year.