Irfan’s Story

Irfan, is an 18-year-old weaver from Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh who spends his weekdays weaving and his weekends helping his community access and use digital financial services (DFS). With a keen interest in exploring new technologies, Irfan actively seeks out ways to leverage them. He's found a side income by using referral features on various platforms. He has even begun sharing referral links through his aunt’s or uncle’s apps as his own PhonePe account reached its referral limit. This approach has enabled him to earn substantial pocket money.

For the past five years, Irfan has been using UPI and prefers online payments over cash, drawn by the appeal of cashback rewards. When his father opened a shop during the pandemic, it was Irfan who pushed for installing UPI to offer digital payment options to customers. Despite lacking a formal education, Irfan has taught himself how to navigate these platforms using YouTube to resolve his doubts.

“In my free time, I like to learn how to use Paytm. When I cannot understand something, I search that on YouTube. Once I understand things, I tell my friends about it too: ‘You should use this. It is beneficial. Do this. Do that.’ Today morning, I paid my friend’s loan installment on Paytm after learning about it on YouTube." - Irfan

He approaches new ventures with a practical mindset, conducting a cost-benefit analysis before making decisions. Recently, he independently opened a Kotak Mahindra Bank account through its app and took advantage of services like KYC at home, UPI, and net banking, further expanding his digital capabilities. Irfan's self-driven learning and resourcefulness have empowered him to integrate digital tools into not just his daily life and business but his community’s as well.