New Delhi, June 11 -- The parliamentary standing committee on women empowerment has raised concerns about severe understaffing in cybercrime units and a perceived lax attitude towards online crimes targeting women and children.

The panel, during its fourth meeting convened on Monday, heard briefings from the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) and the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on "cyber crimes and cyber safety of women". Cyber experts and NGOs also presented their views.

Multiple lawmakers, speaking anonymously, said the committee confronted ministry representatives over critical shortcomings.

An MP told HT that the MHA unit specifically handling cybercrimes against women operates with inadequate staff. "We ...