Figure 3
The circular systems diagram is enclosed within a rectangular frame and features an oval labeled “CYCLE OF MARGINALIZATION” at the center. Surrounding it are four large intervention nodes arranged in a circular loop. On the left, a red oval labeled “A Transform Food Systems” represents the first intervention lever. At the top, a blue oval labeled “B Cultural Sensitivity” represents the second lever. On the right, an orange oval labeled “C Revamp Health Services” represents the third lever. At the bottom, a green oval labeled “D Economic Empowerment” represents the fourth lever. Curved solid arrows between these four ovals form a continuous loop, illustrating a reinforcing cycle. Around the loop are six smaller numbered components connected to the system: “1 Structural Drivers”, “2 Economic Deprivation”, “3 Caste Exclusion”, “4 Systemic Discrimination”, “5 Poor Nutrition”, and “6 Intergenerational Transmission”. These components are positioned near the circular pathway and align with specific segments of the cycle. In addition to the solid curved arrows that depict reinforcing relationships, dashed arrows highlight intervention pathways. A dashed green arrow extends from “2 Economic Deprivation” downward toward “D Economic Empowerment”, indicating a targeted intervention link. A dashed orange arrow runs diagonally from “5 Poor Nutrition” toward “C Revamp Health Services”, marking another intervention point. A dashed connection is also shown between “3 Caste Exclusion” and “B Cultural Sensitivity”, indicating a strategic leverage point. A legend at the top left and bottom right distinguishes between cycle components and intervention levers. A note at the bottom reads “Solid arrows show reinforcing cycle. Dashed arrows intervention points”.The cycle of Dalit women’s nutritional marginalization and strategic intervention levers. Caption: This flowchart depicts the self-perpetuating cycle of nutritional disadvantage. The colored callouts (A, B, C, D) represent the key intervention strategies proposed, mapped onto the specific points in the cycle they are designed to disrupt. The cycle begins with Structural Drivers (Caste, Gender, Class), which lead to Economic Deprivation and Disempowerment, which in turn shape constrained Dietary Intake and Diversity and Systemic Discrimination in Food Programs, ultimately resulting in Poor Health and Nutrition Status, which feeds back to reinforce the original structural drivers