Tamil Nadu Health Minister Clarifies Gold Ring Scheme Tender

Joyalukkas, which quoted one paise and emerged because the lowest bidder for supplying one-gram gold rings underneath the Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam mentioned that so far as this scheme was involved it had no revenue motive and was doing in order a goodwill gesture, Tamil Nadu Well being Minister Okay.G. Arunraj mentioned on Monday (August 24, 2026).

The bid amount of one paise sparked a controversy just a few days in the past, prompting the Well being Division to difficulty a press launch stating that work orders have been issued to Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers, which agreed to match the quoted worth, in a 70:30 ratio for the scheme.

Searching for to make clear the difficulty, the Minister mentioned there are two elements within the scheme – one being the gold worth and the opposite being costs together with making costs, for packing, transportation, insurance coverage, and BIS hallmarking.

The tender was floated not for the gold charge however the different part (further costs), he mentioned.

“The gold worth is mounted. The India Bullion and Jewellers Affiliation publishes the charges within the morning and night. We’re taking the a.m. (morning) charge. This charge applies to Joyalukkas too.

Once we opened the tender, we discovered 11 firms had been eligible. We had been shocked after we noticed that Joyalukkas had quoted one paise. We contacted them asking whether or not it was a typographical error.

They mentioned that so far as this scheme was involved, they’d no revenue motive and had been doing it as a goodwill gesture,” he defined.

The worth quoted by the bottom bidder was shared with the opposite 10 taking part companies for his or her willingness to match the value.

Kalyan Jewellers agreed to match the quoted worth following which 70% of the work was granted to Joyalukkas, L1 and the remaining 30% to Kalyan Jewellers.

“Via this, the State authorities will save ₹20 to ₹25 crore a 12 months,” he mentioned, including that this was attainable via a good and clear tender course of. The State authorities didn’t maintain talks with any firm nor was the tender floated by predetermining firms, he added.

Dengue instances

Within the mild of rising instances of dengue within the State, the Minister held a overview assembly with district well being officers on Monday.

He mentioned that as in opposition to 12 dengue-related deaths final 12 months (From January 1 to August 23), there have been 4 this 12 months.

Tamil Nadu has recorded almost half the variety of dengue instances reported throughout the identical interval final 12 months. Until August 23, the State recorded 12,489 instances, in contrast with 25,585 instances final 12 months.

Instances have been reported in Chennai, Coimbatore, Kancheepuram, Erode, Tiruvallur and Tenkasi, he mentioned.

He mentioned that Chennai accounted for probably the most variety of fever instances and dengue optimistic instances. He added that Tenkasi was an endemic space, and the MLA had additionally represented the difficulty.

Dr. Arunraj mentioned that further home breeding checkers will likely be recruited and their work will likely be monitored. He additionally urged the general public to hunt medical assist in case of fever.