Odisha has shown progress in many indicators but under-nutrition including hidden hunger still stands as a challenge for the State. Undernutrition is a leading contributor to infant, child and maternal mortality and morbidity. Since malnutrition is indirectly responsible for 69% of child deaths in the country, it is extremely crucial to focus on improving maternal and child nutrition for ensuring their survival and development. Odisha has shown progress in many indicators but under-nutrition including hidden hunger still stands as a challenge for the State. Undernutrition is a leading contributor to infant, child and maternal mortality and morbidity. Since malnutrition is indirectly responsible for 69% of child deaths in the country, it is extremely crucial to focus on improving maternal and child nutrition for ensuring their survival and development. Over the years significantly effective strategies and programmes have been formulated and implemented which have started to yield positive results in reducing malnutrition. Therefore, it is important that every stakeholder who is a part of the system and plays an important role in addressing the issues related to health and nutrition must essentially be aware of the key nutrition actions and interventions. All health care providers who interact with mothers and young children should acquire the basic knowledge and skills on infant and young child feeding principles, management of severe acute malnutrition, iodine deficiency disorder, management of iron deficiency and management of vit-A deficiency. I would like to congratulate all the technical members of RCAPHN involved in developing this comprehensive package on nutrition components and themes which will excel the knowledge of public health students. I encourage all to use this handbook as a commendable resource material. The technical modules on nutrition components will help in enhancing the knowledge and skills of public health functionaries and enable them to understand and implement the interventions successfully.