The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) has floated a tender to fix the rate contract for supply of one gram gold rings for babies born in government hospitals across the State under the Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam.
Last month, the State government had announced that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will inaugurate the scheme on September 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and a Government Order was issued. According to the order, gold rings would be procured for 4,41,667 deliveries at a total cost of ₹755.83 crore — ₹17,000 each — along with ₹5 crore towards administration costs.
The scheme elicited mixed responses, with concerns raised by public health professionals and political parties, including how the funds could be better spent on strengthening healthcare. One of the contentious aspects of the scheme was the decision to entrust the TNMSC, an agency that was established in 1994-95 to ensure the availability of essential medicines in government hospitals, with the procurement of gold rings.
The TNMSC has now gone ahead and floated the tender. As per the notification, it proposes to fix a rate contract for a period of one year for supply of approximately 4,41,667 one-gram gold rings (22 carat) per year. It has provided the tentative annual requirement for each hospital across all districts. The Government Medical College Hospital, Tiruvannamalai, recorded the highest projected annual requirement at 14,409, followed by the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Hospital for Women and Children, Egmore, with 14,197 and the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, with 14,149.
For the purpose of financial bid evaluation, the benchmark gold rate for one gram of 22 carat (916) gold is fixed as ₹13,000, the document said.
The ornament will be a smooth-edged baby ring suitable for newborns. The design, dimensions, and engraving pattern (if any) will be approved and finalised by the purchaser (TNMSC) prior to commencement of bulk production. Each ring will be securely packed in a transparent polycarbonate blister card with a tamper-evident seal. Each unit will bear a unique serial number corresponding to the batch/lot number, hallmark unique identification, and BIS Hallmark/Assay Certificate details to ensure complete traceability, the document said. The front side of the blister card must be embossed/printed with the Government of Tamil Nadu logo, a portrait of the Chief Minister, and the name of the scheme, it stated.
