{
  "id": 10426184,
  "title": "Special delivery: India state hands out gold for newborns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/special-delivery-india-state-hands-out-gold-for-newborns",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T10:56:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/09/1543193/special-delivery-india-state-hands-out-gold-newborns"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Madurai, a city in India's Tamil Nadu state, recently began a unique program offering newborns a free one-gram gold ring at government hospitals. This initiative, launched by the state's Chief Minister Vijay, aims to bolster confidence in public healthcare and is significant due to gold's cultural value in India. The gold ring, worth about US$143, provides a valuable asset for future generations. Mothers, visibly emotional during the distribution, expressed gratitude for the gesture. However, opposition party members criticized the scheme, arguing that the immediate need is proper nutrition for infants and mothers. Despite challenges like staff shortages and long waiting times, public hospitals remain the primary choice for childbirth in India, though home births still occur in rural areas. The infant and maternal mortality rates in the country are still high. The scheme, called \"Thaimaman\" program, plays on the cultural importance of a maternal uncle in family events and India's strong gold consumption.",
  "summary": "MADURAI: 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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Special delivery: India's Tamil Nadu hands out gold for newborns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/special-delivery-indias-tamil-nadu-hands-out-gold-for-newborns",
        "published": "2026-09-28T10:16:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "How can ECI render case against byelections to five Tamil Nadu constituencies infructuous, wonders CM Vijay’s counsel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/how-can-eci-render-case-against-byelections-to-five-tamil-nadu",
        "published": "2026-09-28T12:45:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}