Hi,

There is a typo in the batmand startup (init.d) script
the interface is refered as 

interface=$(uci get batman.general.interface)
while it should be interface=$(uci get batmand.general.interface)
(ie. batman should be batmand)

similar is the case with the options too.

the uci command arguments are
uci get/set packagename.config_profile.option

Regards,
Vinay