'Janakeeyan' bus is this Kerala village's pride, owned & operated by people

A white minibus with artsy flourishes on its body, trundling its way up the hilly terrain, used to be quite a sight for the residents of Mattathipara, a village in Idukki. They owned it, literally. The villagers, tired of the backbreaking rides on autorickshaws, had pooled together their savings to buy a bus, to connect them with the nearest towns. 

They named it Janakeeyan. Over the years, they would buy a new bus, and the service went on until recently, it was halted. The funds had become scarce to maintain the bus. The villagers didn't give up, though. They again raised funds amongst themselves, and two weeks ago, the bus was back on the road.

This minibus is more than just transport; it’s the symbol of Mattathipara’s grit and togetherness, even as bikers flock here for its hairpin bends and mountain treks.

The story of Janakeeyan began in 2008, but Mattathipara’s fight for a dependable bus service goes back much further. In 1983, the first private bus rolled into the village, but it did not last long. Over the years, a handful of other services tried their luck but never lasted long.

Through all those years, residents were left to rely on jeeps and autorickshaws to reach the nearest towns of Karinkunnam and Neeloor, often paying hefty fares for even the shortest trips.

In 2008, residents of Mattathipara came together in an effort to overcome their travel struggles. A group of 76 people chipped in with ₹10,000 each to buy a bus. They purchased a second-hand, small bus suitable for the region’s hilly terrain. The bus connected Karinkunnam and Neloor through Mattathipara. 

The response from locals was overwhelming, and the trips were always full. Soon, they managed to buy a new bus, which continued to draw large crowds. Encouraged by the success of the service, the KSRTC launched a route connecting Thodupuzha, Karinkunnam, and Mattathipara in 2011. However, this service was short-lived and eventually scrapped.

The success story was marred by the COVID-19 outbreak. Passenger numbers declined significantly as many people purchased their own vehicles. Consequently, daily collections dropped after the pandemic.

To make matters worse, the Janakeeya Bus Aikyavedi, which operates the service, had deposited around ₹3 lakh in the Mattathipara branch of the Kadanad Service Cooperative Bank. Due to internal issues at the bank, the money could not be withdrawn.

"It was around this time that the annual testing of the bus was due. But without funds, we couldn’t complete it. Since we were unable to withdraw the money from the bank, we had to stop the service by August," said Benny Augustine, Secretary of the Janakeeya Bus Aikyavedi. 

The residents couldn't have given up on their lifeline. "Janakeeyan is the face of Mattathipara. Whatever happens, we decided to move forward and restart the service," said Jimmy Mattathipara, Kerala Congress (M) Thodupuzha President.

Thus, members of the Aikyavedi reached out to every household in Mattathipara, and 60 new members agreed to buy shares by contributing ₹20,000 each. "We raised a significant amount, and the bus could be repaired to restart the service," said Jaison C, a member of the Aikyavedi, who also worked as the bus conductor for a short while.

Together, they restarted the service, and the bus began operating again on September 12. "There are more than 350 families in Mattathipara. The bus is the identity of the entire village. In addition to the 132 shareholders, more people have expressed interest in buying shares to keep the service going," said Jimmy.

The residents are planning to buy a new bus and replace the existing one, which has been in service for eight years. 

The bus has played an undisputed role in the development of Mattathipara, said Benny. "It was unacceptable to see the service being shut down. The resilience of our people is evident in this collective effort. Even the residents who are abroad and don't need to travel in the bus contributed," said Jimmy.