There is a provision in the National Disaster Management Act (NDMA) in which if a natural disaster is declared calamity of severe nature the loans obtained by the farmers would be waived. Farmers who have suffered irreparable loss in Cyclone Gaja are eagerly expecting the announcement from the governments, said Jones, a social researcher specialising in natural disasters. Cyclone Gaja wreaked havoc in 12 districts uprooting several lakh of trees leaving farmers in a miserable position looking for help from the state and Union governments. According to experts, the livelihood of most farmers has gone back by at least 35 years and it will take them several years to bounce back. In the current scenario, large number of farmers, who have obtained loans from various public sector and cooperative banks, had already demanded the state government to write off the loans that they obtained for farming. Experts say that there is a provision for cancellation of loans obtained by farmers in the NDMA. According to section 13 of NDMA, The National Authority may, in case of disasters of severe magnitude, recommend relief in repayment of loans or for grant of fresh loans to the persons affected by disaster on such concessional terms as may be appropriate. Jones said, Like Kerala, Tamil Nadu government too should pressurise the Union government to announce Cyclone Gaja as a calamity of severe nature to help its farmers feel relieved from the pressure of bank loans.