Will the <a title="Gujarat" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/india/gujarat-unveils-5-year-ai-plan-for-governance/17135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gujarat</a> government deliver on its promise? That&rsquo;s the question haunting fishermen operating Outboard Motor (OBM) boats, even after the state tripled the daily subsidised fuel quota to 450 litres per license holder.
The announcement, made on Wednesday by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Raghavji Patel, is being positioned as a major relief. &ldquo;The fishermen&rsquo;s long-pending demand is now fulfilled,&rdquo; Patel said. &ldquo;Earlier, the state supplied only 150 litres of fuel, which has now been increased threefold.&rdquo;
According to Commissioner of Fisheries Vijay Kharadi, OBM boat operators were earlier restricted to 5&ndash;6 nautical miles and received 40&ndash;50 litres of fuel per day, enough for about 5&ndash;6 days of operation. With the increased quota, fishermen could potentially stay at sea for 7&ndash;8 days, though this will also increase the state&rsquo;s financial burden by ₹18 crore.
Yet, the reaction on the ground has been mixed, with scepticism outweighing celebration.
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<h3 data-start="1255" data-end="1293">Scepticism Over Implementation</h3>
Fishermen&rsquo;s rights activist Yasin Gajjan rejected the announcement as insufficient and impractical, alleging that subsidy access is limited and inconsistent. &ldquo;This move is not fulfilling the demands of fishermen. They&rsquo;re living in worse conditions. Almost 90% are illiterate and don&rsquo;t even own homes,&rdquo; Gajjan told Benefit News. He estimated that OBM boats need 800&ndash;1000 litres of fuel per month, and the subsidy is only available at GFCCA petrol pumps. &ldquo;In Devbhumi Dwarka, where there is no GFCCA pump, fishermen receive no benefit. In Porbandar and Veraval, they still pay ₹50 per litre,&rdquo; he said.
<h3 data-start="1934" data-end="1982">Stakeholders Welcome Move &ndash; With Caveats</h3>
Bhaskar Panjari, former President of the Porbandar Pilana (OBM) Association and a trustee of Kharva Samaj, praised the decision. &ldquo;Finally, the government has met our demand. OBM boats consume around 15 litres per day. This announcement aligns with the need and will enable fishermen to go deeper into the sea for a better catch,&rdquo; he said.
But Panjari also flagged a critical pending issue &ndash; subsidy disbursement delays. &ldquo;Fishermen receive ₹50 subsidy per litre, but since the new financial year began, the state hasn&rsquo;t released subsidies for April and May 2025,&rdquo; he said.
<h3 data-start="2584" data-end="2620">A History of Unkept Promises</h3>
The announcement has also reopened old wounds. Bharat Modi, former President of the Porbandar Boat Owners Association, said, &ldquo;Fifteen to twenty years ago, fishermen received 260&ndash;270 litres a day. Now, despite tall claims, we barely get 60&ndash;70 litres.&rdquo;
He recalled how kerosene was once a staple, but with the state no longer supplying it, petrol became the alternative&mdash;one that has never been delivered in promised volumes. &ldquo;Announcements are always sweet, but implementation is bitter. Government after government has failed to walk the talk. I&rsquo;ll keep my fingers crossed until the promised 450 litres are delivered regularly,&rdquo; Modi added.
As the fishing season intensifies, the onus is now on the government to not only fulfil its promise but to restore the trust of a community that continues to feel abandoned at sea.

Boats anchored at Porbandar fishing harbour

Gujarat increases OBM fuel quota, but subsidy delays and access raise fishermen's concern

Fishermen Doubt Govt Fuel Promise Will Sail True

Gujarat increases OBM fuel quota, but subsidy delays and access raise fishermen's concern

August 6, 2025 | 20:52 IST