Running for cover?At first, it seemed a brilliant idea when the General Insurance Company (GIC) introduced insurance schemes for women, something that had never been done before. For a low premium, women could get insured against illnesses, divorce. But sadly, the GIC clubbed rape along with an unforeseeable event like death. Under the scheme, women who have lost a limb because of rape can claim Rs. 12,500 and those with a permanent disability no more than Rs. 25,000. By providing insurance for this abominable crime, they have treated rape like a disaster waiting to happen. Surely what is required by women is not insurance against rape but laws that would make convictions easy.Grounded blissMarriages may be made in heaven, but they most certainly are planned on terra firma. Nowadays, it is not so much the horoscopes but the matching of personalities that matter. Reshim Ganthi, a marriage bureau to be inaugurated on March 25 at Kothrud, promises to provide professional services in matters related to the heart. Apart from giving essential information about suitable matches, they will offer medical and astrological advice. The interesting part is that they also offer pre-marital counselling to those who want it. A little practicality goes a long way when it comes to relationships.In the guru's footstepsOn March 21, the Osho Commune International completed 25 years in Pune. To commemorate the occasion, Ma Darshana, an upcoming Odissi dancer and student of Debi Basu, disciple of Kelucharan Mohapatra, the Odissi great, gave her debut performance at Gautama the Buddha Auditorium inside the commune. She began with Mangalacharan, a traditional ritual to sanctify the stage, after which she presented two varieties of Pallavi. The finale was a mesmerising `Moksha.' The dances were choreographed by Mohapatra, with the guru showering his blessings on the dancer through the tinkle of the manjira and the recitation of some bols.Woman with driveComputers may have been dominated by men so far, but they will soon have to make way for women. Jayshree Joglekar received the `IT Woman of the Year 1998' by the Computer Society of India, Pune Chapter, and the SAS Institute Pvt. Ltd. Joglekar, director, Veritas Softaware India Pvt. Ltd, had earlier received the AT&T's Golden Pyramid award for quality. Goes to show that when a woman puts her mind to it, nothing is impossible.
