Idle Thai Taxis Go Green with Gardens on Car Roofs

People in different parts of the world are in danger due to the epidemic. Despite the catastrophic floods of 2011 and the political turmoil, the Thai people have never been in such a bad situation. In the new situation, vegetable gardens can be seen on the roofs of rented taxis on the streets of Bangkok. Vegetables have been cultivated on the roofs of lazy taxicabs during the Covid-19 epidemic. This is not only a way of apparent supply of vegetables but also a kind of protest of the drivers.  

Employees of two taxi service companies started this work last week. The field is being made by placing plastic bags in a bamboo frame. Then the seeds of different varieties of vegetables are being sown in it with soil and fertilizer. These include tomatoes, cucumbers, Yardlong beans, etc.

Due to the epidemic, taxi cab drivers in Thailand, like in other parts of the world, have suffered a severe recession. In such a situation, their initiative is as easy to see as it is to remind them of their plight.

Only 500 taxicabs are now running on the streets of Bangkok under the country's two co-operative societies, Rachapruk and Bowron. About two and a half thousand cars are sitting idle, said Thapakorn Assawalrtkul, executive of the association.

Drivers are now waiting for low-fare passenger crossings there. As a result, the income of the drivers has decreased at an alarming rate. There are many people who can't even pay the daily car deposit. Even in this situation, the association has halved the deposit for the car. In local currency, it is 300 baht or 9 dollars 9 cents. However, many drivers cannot earn this money all day. As a result, the cars fall, lazy, lonely.

There are many drivers who have stopped driving taxis. Especially when the first epidemic started last year, many people left their cars and went to their families in the village. At that time, however, the reason for leaving the city was the fear of infection with the novel coronavirus. But when the epidemic hit in the second phase, many could not turn around. He returned the car and went to their old address.

Thapakorn Assawallarkul said there were situations where many drivers left their cars at any place in the city or at the gas station.  

In such a situation, the taxi service companies fall into a financial crisis. They are struggling to pay off the debts they had to pay to buy these vehicles. Rachapruk and Bowron Cooperative Societies still owe 68 million. The officials of the association are now thinking about how to pay it. So far, the government has not promised any financial assistance.  

If proper help is not available at the moment, there will be a deep crisis, said Thapakorn, an official of the association. He said the workers were gardening on the roof of the cab, which was a kind of protest. Through this, they are highlighting their plight as well as arranging their own vegetables for a while.

Source: AP