Man attacks nurse over 'delay' in getting gold ring for newborn under Vijay's scheme

A 35-year-old nurse and two of her family members were injured after a man allegedly attacked them in Tamil Nadu when he was told to wait for his turn to receive a gold ring for his newborn under a newly introduced state government scheme.The incident took place in the Thanjavur district. The accused has been identified as Madan, whose wife gave birth to their child at a government hospital there on September 16.He was told that while his family was indeed eligible to get a one-gram gold ring under the Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram scheme, they would have to wait a few days as the ornaments were being handed over on the basis of the dates of birth of the children.The incident came just days after the welfare initiative was launched by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Madan reportedly told the nurse, Alamelu, that he immediately needed the ring to place it during a ceremony scheduled at his house.However, she purportedly told him that the ring would be given only when his turn came. According to the nurse, she told Madan that the scheme covered deliveries from as early as June 22, with 10 beneficiaries being called to the government hospital each day.However, Madan grew agitated over the waiting list, she said. He allegedly hurled abuses at Alamelu, her brother Suman and their aunt Sujatha, and attacked them with a spade lying nearby.All three of them were hospitalised for treatment. Alamelu is said to have sustained internal injuries to her head.The police have initiated an investigation into the incident.THAAIMAMAN THANGA MOTHIRAM THITTAM: BRIEF OVERVIEWThe Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, which translates to "maternal uncle gold ring scheme," was formally launched by CM Vijay on Monday, September 28, in line with the TVK's pre-poll promise.Under the welfare scheme, each eligible newborn delivered at a state-run hospital in Tamil Nadu is entitled to a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring.To be eligible for the scheme, mothers of newborns must be permanent residents of the state.The Vijay-led government has allocated an annual outlay of Rs 755.83 crore for the scheme.- Ends(With additional inputs from PTI)