New Delhi, April 15 -- In January, the market regulator introduced the concept of Rs.250-a-month mutual fund investments - akin to selling shampoo in sachets instead of bottles - in a bid to bring India's low-income earners into the financial mainstream. While the smaller ticket size addresses affordability, there are certain barriers that make gold jewellery and informal chit funds more attractive propositions for this category of savers.

However, this means that low-income earners are left with low-growth savings or sometimes end up watching their lifetime savings disappear after investing them in fraudulent schemes.

Mint talked to people who tried to get their house helps to invest in mutual funds. The problem starts from trying to c...