In a unique form of protest against the government’s decision to offer free travel for women in state-run KSRTC buses, a private bus owner in Kerala has announced free rides for men on Monday, June 15. The “Little Flower” bus, which operates on the Aluva-Manjali route, is spearheading this protest to draw the government’s attention to the severe financial crisis faced by the private bus industry.

Davis, the owner of the Little Flower bus, explained that his route overlaps heavily with KSRTC services. With the implementation of the government’s free travel scheme for women, private operators expect a drastic drop in female passengers, who make up the majority of their daily commuters. While he is not against welfare schemes, Davis emphasizes that the lack of support or protection for private operators will push the industry, which comprises around 10,000 buses across Kerala, to the brink of collapse.

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Alongside the free rides for male passengers, the owner has also announced a sweet gesture for women. Female commuters who choose to ride his private bus instead of taking the free KSRTC service to show solidarity with the private transport sector will be welcomed with sweets. Davis urged the government to hold discussions with private bus operators to find a sustainable solution, noting that KSRTC’s limited fleet of around 3,000 buses cannot meet the state’s entire public transport needs without the support of private operators.