The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has convened the meeting of State Chief Ministers tomorrow to combat surging inflation. The food inflation remained 17.56 per cent in last month. <br/><br/>The issue was discussed with the state Chief Secretaries last week where the Prime Minsiter asked them to improve the Public Distribution System, PDS, and increase farm productivity. Official sources said that the meeting will also review the implementation of the essential commodities act to check the hoarding of food items. <br/><br/>The centre has been asking states to fully utilise their allocation of cereals under the PDS as well as open market. The Congress President, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has said that containing the rise in prices of essential commodities is the priority of the UPA government. The State Chief Ministers' Meeting is taking place close on the heels of the meeting of the Congress Working Committee. Rising prices of essential commodities was one of the important issues discussed in the highest policy making body of the Congress. Our correspondent reports that the government has taken a series of measures to arrest rising inflation.