Jammu, Mar 07 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday said that linemen of Power Development Department (PDD) are the ‘true foot soldiers and indispensable workforce’.

Addressing the gathering at ‘Lineman Diwas’ in Jammu, CM Omar praised the efforts of Lineman and said that during the Operation Sindoor and the 2025 floods they brave adverse conditions like war and natural calamities.

“The Lineman put their lives on the line of duty, just like our brave defence forces,” he said.

The CM on the occasion further said, “I have witnessed such a function for the linemen for the first time of my seven and a half years of experience in heading the power sector including the six years of my previous government and one and a half years of the incumbent government.”

Omar appreciated the Managing Director of Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) and its colleagues for organizing such event for the lineman.

He said that it is the result of the hard work of the linemen that the children are able to study in schools and home and the farmers get water in their fields.

On the occasion, CM Omar recognised the linemen as the frontline technical workforce in maintaining the electricity supply in Jammu and Kashmir.

The event was attended by Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dheeraj Gupta, Financial Commissioner (ACS) Power Development Department, Ashwani Kumar, Managing Director JKPDCL, Rahul Yadav and Managing Director JPDCL, Gurpal Singh.

Omar in his key address spoke of the foundational role that electricity plays in governance and public life.

“Power makes virtually all other aspects of our lives function. Government services like healthcare, education and irrigation do not work without electricity,” he said.

He said that the linemen are ‘actual foot soldiers and indispensable workforce of the power department,’ and singled out their service during Operation Sindoor and the 2025 floods for special praise.

“You brave adverse conditions like war and natural calamities. You put your lives on the line of duty just like our brave defence forces,” he said.

About the safety of the frontline workers, Omar said, “We aim to achieve the goal of zero casualty of linemen during work. The government and the power department will ensure the safety of each individual lineman.”

The CM urged the procurement of safety equipment. “The department must ensure the equipment reaches field linemen and that they receive proper training to use it.”

In the meantime, MD of JPDCL Gurpal Singh said that the corporation serves over 12 lakh consumers across the Jammu region.

He appreciated the technical workforce for this achievement and highlighted the daily role of linemen working at heights, in extreme weather and across challenging terrains.

JPDCL MD on the occasion announced the centralised procurement of safety equipment worth Rs 1.5 crore, including safety shoes, belts, helmets and discharge rods, for systematic distribution to field linemen