The section 20 in chapter (IV) of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007 states that healthcare for Sr Citizens shall be provided by the State Governments. The main objective of the programmes is to provide recognition and opportunity to senior citizens to contribute and thereby feel useful to the society, to improve the quality of life of the Senior Citizens, by encouraging productive and active ageing through the Institutions of the State/ UT Governments/Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) / local bodies and the community at large.

Appreciating the critical and significant role of States/UTs, each State/UT is expected to plan and strategize taking into account their local considerations and frame their own State Action Plans for the welfare of their senior citizens. This State Action Plan may comprise a long-term strategy for five years as well as Annual Action Plans.

Under SAPSrC, the Ministry releases funds to the States/UTs for formulation and implementation of their State Action Plans. States/ UTs are free to include their own strategies and programmes as a part of their State Action Plans, however the design of the SAPSrC for which funding is admissible has been finalized under AVYAY. The States/ UTs are expected to put in their own funds to augment the resources available for this purpose.