Every baby born in a public hospital in Tamil Nadu, India, receives a one-gram gold ring valued at around $145.
The benefit applies to babies born since June 22 and aims to strengthen confidence in the public healthcare system and encourage more births in hospitals.
In the district of Madurai, dozens of mothers came with their newborns to receive the jewelry.
One of them told AFP: “This gold ring will be a valuable asset for the children in the future”. BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan criticized the program and wrote that, for families, access to basic food every day is the priority.
In India, public hospitals also face staff shortages and long waiting lists.