The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today asked states to use all instruments at their command to make essential commodities avaliable to the poor at reasonable prices. The statement assumes importance in the wake of rising prices of essential commadities despite a series of measures by the centre.<br/><br/>Addressing the first ever annual conference of State Chief Secretaries in New Delhi, he also asked state governments to devise strategies to bolster food production and tackle shortages of essential supplies. Dr. Singh said there is great scope for improvement in the productivity of major crops and hoped to see greater efforts in achieving it. He however, maintained it must be recognised that in a globalised world it will never be possible to insulate the country from the pulls and pressures of international demand and supply.<br/><br/>Dr. Singh also utilised the occasion to ask the bureaucracy to tone up its functioning and to stress the need for tackling terrorism, insurgency and extremism with a firm but effective and sensitive hand. On newer challenges confronting the administrators, the Prime Minister said people today resent apathy, sloth and corruption in any form and at any level of government more than ever before. He said the rising expectations of the people made them impatient with the speed at which results were delivered by the government. The Prime Minister said it was one of the primary responsibilities of any government to ensure the rule of law and an atmosphere of peace and communal harmony for rapid economic growth.