Koraput: Dinja Jakesika on Thursday became the first Dongria Kondh woman to obtain a passport and is set for a foreign jaunt.

The 33-year-old sarpanch of Kurli panchayat under Bissamkatak block in Rayagada district will visit Indonesia to attend the first International Indigenous Film Festival (IIFF) to be held at Bali from January 26 to 28.

"I am very happy to be the first woman of our community to visit any foreign country and that too for a noble cause. At the film festival, I will speak about the struggle of my community in saving the Niyamgiri hills from bauxite mining and as well ass protect our culture and tradition," she said.

In 2016, Dinja won the Outstanding Women Panchayat Leader award in New Delhi. She is popular among her community for her selfless service encouraging education among children and working against social evils such as child marriage, witchcraft and liquor.

Bhubaneswar-based film-maker Surya Shankar Dash, who will accompany Dinja to Indonesia, said: "For the first time, the IIFF is being organised by the Indigenous Film Archive and indigenous people from all over the world will assemble there. Dinja will deliver a talk on her community on the inaugural day of the festival."

Dinja's proposed visit to Bali has lifted the mood of the Dongria Kondhs.

"It's a proud moment for us as a woman from our community will deliver a talk at an international forum," said Champat Jakasika.

According to official figures, the population of the primitive tribe stands at 8,942 and they reside in 102 villages situated across the Niyamgiri hills spread over Bissamkatak, Kalyansinghpur and Muniguda blocks of Rayagada district.