Darwin – A migrant Sikh taxi driver has turned a racist cab fare experience into a monthly quest to feed the needy, hungry and homeless in Darwin.
His turban and long beard had made Tejinder Singh the target of racism on his daily runs.
Now Tejinder Singh and his three family members save $1 each a day so they can spend the last Sunday of every month handing out kilos of rice and chickpeas from a van.
According to 105.7 ABC Darwin, whenever Mr Singh see the people, I stop and ask if they needed food.
Tejinder works as an air conditioner mechanic on a skilled migrant visa, but by night he drives through Darwin’s streets in a taxi.
He occasionally encounters racism from cab customers due to the black turban worn for his religion.
In 2012, Mr Singh picked up a person who asked him which school in Darwin his children attended.
After Mr Singh replied, the person said he would send his kids to the same school as Mr Singh was not likely to bomb an establishment that his own children attended.
Shortly afterwards, Mr Singh launched his food van for the hungry in Darwin, to help the community to not be so afraid of his turban.
“Our religion says 10 per cent [of your income goes towards] the needy, poor, who need help, no matter if they follow your religion,” he said.
“I try to follow my religion.”